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BX 



1877 
SMC 



THREE MIDDLE-IRISH HOMILIES 



ON 



THE LIVES OF SAINTS 

PATRICK, BRIGIT AND COLUMBA. 



EDITED BY 

WHITLEY STOKES. 



\Om hundred copies privately printed^ 



CALCUTTA: 1877. 




the ppesence of this Book 



thejm kelly 
has Been made possiBle 
thpouqh the qeneposity 



Stephen B. Roman 

From the Library of Daniel Binchy 




TO 



PROFESSOR ERNST WINDISCH, 



FROM WHOM I HAVE ALREADY LEARNT MUCH AND HOPE TO LEARN MORE. 



CONTENTS. 

PREFACE ... ... ... ... ... ... Vli 

ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK ... ... ... ... 2 

ON THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGIT ... ... ... ... 50 

ON THE LIFR OF SAINT COLUMBA... ... ... ... 90 

INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS ... ... ... ... 127 

INDEX OF LOCAL NAMES, TRIBES, AND RACES ... ... 129 

INDEX OF THE RARER WORDS ... .. ... ... 131 

CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS 138 



PREFACE. 

THIS volume contains three Middle Irish homilies, hitherto 
imprinted, transcribed from the lithographic facsimile of the 
Lebar Brecc, a manuscript of the fifteenth century preserved in 
the library of the Royal Irish Academy. 

The first of these homilies, on the text Isaiah IX, 2, deals 
with the life of Patrick. It supplies some defects found in each 
of the two manuscripts (Egerton 93 and Rawl. B. 512) of the so- 
called Tripartite Life of that saint : it sets forth with distinctness 
the prior mission of Palladius: it gives (p. 18) a remarkable 
instance of self-cremation: it refers (p. 26) to an ordeal by water: 
it exemplifies (p. 34) the practice of shewing reverence by walking 
round persons or things keeping the right hand towards them 
(the Indian dakshiam kri) : it contains (pp. 20, 30) two or three 
old proverbs : it illustrates (passim) the incredible credulity of the 
medieval Irish ; and it furnishes examples of some rare words and 
verbal forms. But I cannot say that in other respects it is of 
much, or indeed of any, value. 

The second homily, on the text Apoc. XIV, 4, deals with 
the life of Brigit, and furnishes a good example of the way in 
which heathen mythological legends become annexed to historical 
Christian Saints.* Thus from the story of Brigit one may, with 
out much rashness, pick out the following incidents as having 
originally belonged to the myth or the ritual of some goddess of 
fire. Brigit (cf. Skr. bhargas glanz Grassmann, ^Ae yw, OAt yvc, 
QXotj/uIgur?) was born at sunrise (infra p. 56), neither within nor 
without a house (ibid.) : bathed in milk (ibid.) : her breath 
revives the dead (ibid.) : a house in which she is staying flames up 
to heaven : cowdung blazes before her (ibid.) : oil is poured on her 
head (p. 58) : she is fed with the milk of a white, red-eared cow 
(ibid.) : a fiery pillar rises from her head (p. 66) : sun-rays support 
her wet cloak (p. 82) : she remains a virgin (p. 64) : and she was 
one of the two mothersf of Christ the Anointed. So far the homi- 

* See Jacob Grimm s Deutsche Mythologie, 2te aufl. 5. 

f The other, of course, was Mary. That Agni the butterbacked (ghrita- 
p?-ishha), the son of Bhrigu, is called dvimatri having two mothers ( so wird 
das feuer als aus den zwei reibholzern entsprossen genannt, Grassmann) is 
doubtless only an accidental coincidence. The Irish texts bearing on this curious 
subject are : Ba oenmathair maic rig mair .i. ba hoen de matribus Christi 
Brigit, Broccan s hymn, 1. 63. in mathair fsu, Ultan s hymn to Brigit, 6. ise a 
mac fsu Grist, infra, p. 84. See Todd, Liler Hymnorum, p. 64. 



viii Preface. 

ly. She had a perpetual ashless fire (Giraldus Cambrensis, Topogr. 
Hib. c. 34), watched by twenty nuns, of whom herself was one 
(ibid. c. 35), blown by fans or bellows only, and surrounded by 
a hedge within which no male could enter (ibid. c. 36). 

Besides these mythological matters, the homily here and there 
gives glimpses of the institutions of ancient Ireland, such as con 
cubinage (p. 52): dowry (ibid.): purchase and sale of slaves (pp. 
52, 54, 64): wizardry (p. 54): mulcts (p. 58). 

The existence of leprosy in Ireland (pp. 68, 72, 74, 80) : the 
practice of ale-brewing (p. 67): the use of jewelry (pp. 72, 78): 
the employment of wattling for buildings (p. 78), are also illustrat 
ed by this homily. And the conversation between Brigit and King 
Dunlaing (p. 72) seems to preserve an authentic utterance of an 
Irish heathen warrior. 

The two proverbs gniad each a aimsir p. 70, and is ri cech 
slan p. 72, are also noteworthy. 

The third homily is on the text Gen. XII, i, and deals 
with the life of St. Columba. A few passages from it have been 
printed with translations in Dean Reeves edition of Adamnan s 
biography of that heroic athleta Christi, The pathetic account of 
the saint s death, pp. 120 124, is a good specimen of Middle 
Irish prose, and some Irish superstitions are illustrated : thus, the 
spaeman scanning the sky, p. 102, which seems some kind of 
divination by means of clouds or stars : the strange account of 
Odran s self-sacrifice, p. 119, an example of the universal belief 
in the efficacy of a victim to secure the stability of a building ; 
and the common superstition of the watersnake, p. 119. 

As to the text of these homilies, the language is Middle 
Irish with all the corruptions* found in compositions of the 
twelfth to the fifteenth centuries. But the author has obviously 
often drawn from older and purer sources. This is clear from his 
frequent use of the infixed pronouns, and from the many Old and 

* Of these, the chief are, confusion of a and u in inlaut ; confusion of e 
and f, of a and u in auslaut ; final a for ae, ai and e in auslaut, ae for oe ; 
confusion of infected d and g ; assimilation of the dental in the groups Id, In ; 
sinking of c and t to g- and d (tancadar 58) ; prosthesis of f (ro f-ucc 16) : 
metathesis of cs and ts. In the article, use of na for the nom. pi. masc. (na 
lestair 6) and disuse of the neuter forms in the singular. In the adjective, use 
of the fem. form in the nom. pi. m. In the verb, encroachment of s-forms on 
reduplicated preterites (rucsat 10) and t-preterites (atbertsat 16): the consuetudi- 
nal forms in -ann : the pret. pass, in -at, -et, (roscribat 42, romcraidet), -it 
(robaitsit 42) : the use of absolute instead of subjoined forms : the disuse of 
infixed pronouns and of infixed verbal particles. 



Preface. ix 

Early Middle Irish verbal forms which he employs. It may be 
well to collect some of these 

Infixed Pronouns. 

Sg. i: ni-m-tha 12, ru-m-craidet 36, co-r-um-digtider 36, 
no-m-tadbanar 80. 

Sg. 2: ro-t-fcc 12, no-t-leicc 24, ro-t-bia 28, 44, ni-t-ge tsa 
64, no-t-airmitnigfe, no-t-carfa, no-t-aigthife 76. In do-t-berar 
thou art borne 64, we have an example of the passive impersonal 
flexion, in the 2d singular, of which Zeuss, G. C. 2 482 gives no 
examples.* 

Sg. 3 : con-as-ebi 8, co-r-as-ebatar 8, cu-r-as-toraind 34, 
co-r-as-naisc 12, con-as-tall 64, con-us-bennach 40, con-us-frecc- 
rad 72, ro-s-esreid 4, ni-s-baithed 112, do-s-rat 6, ro-s-icc 6, 
ro-s-airig 6, ro-s-bennach 8, do-s-gni 8, ro-s-glan 10, ro-s-maith 
10, co-ro-s-aicilled 16, do-m-bert 64, ro-t-cairig 6, ro-t-guidestar 
38, no-tm-benand 118. Probably friscerut 18, stands for fris-d- 
gerat. 

PI. i. ro-n-faid 22, ro-n-be 63. 

PI. 3. con-us-leic 6, no-s-baist 32, ro-s-bennach 32, ro-n- 
baist 32, no-s-baidet 36, ro-s-icc 74. 

Pronouns suffixed to Verbs. 
tet-e 34, dochuaid-si 63, dober-si 63, atbert-si 70. 
Verbal Forms. 

Preterite 3d sg. in -ai, -a : dernai 44 = derna 36, 56, 72, 76, 
108, rolabra 84, robennachai (?) 30. 

These forms, like nat-labrai Fl. Dec. 22, (W. llafarodd}, frism- 
bruchtai, Fel. Nov. 30, ropritchai, Egerton 93, p. 3 a i, rolassai, 
Corm. B. s. v. gaire, rothinai, Rawl. B. 512, p. 7 b i, ro-d-scrfbai, 
Goid. 106 (^N.ysgrifodd), adcobra, Fiacc 28, 45, agree with Welsh 
forms in -awdZ. 925 now -odd;\ and I take them to have been 
originally imperfects in -ayat corresponding with Lithuanian forms 
in -o/o, Sanskrit in -ayat, Bopp Vergl. Gram. II, 396. The abnor 
mal forms in -tai, -ta, of which some are cited by Zeuss, G. C. 2 
456, were likewise probably imperfects. 

Reduplicated Preterite. Sg. i : atconnarc 68, itconnarc 68, 
itchonnarc-sa 60 (root dark, Skr. darq), ba-sa 12 (root bu, Skr. 

* Other examples are con-dat-oscaigther (gl. commonere) Ml. 23d, mad 
no-t-fergaither fria gilla, LB. lob. 

f Here &lt;/, as often, has arisen from y. See Rhys, Revue Ccltique, II, 109 ; 
III, 87. 



x Preface. 

bhu) : dulhracur-sa 27, if miswritten for duthracar-sa, is an exam 
ple of the deponential form. Sg. 2 : dorochar 22 (root kar, Skr. 
&lt;?ar), ro-m-ba 32. Sg. 3 : acca 14, 58 (root kas), conacca 14, 20, 
atconnairc, itconnairc 2, 60, atacomnaic 4, ro-s-cuala 18, atchuala 
14, itchuala 12 (root klu Skr. ^ru), dochiiaid 14 (root kud, Skr. 
cud), dor[o]ega 106 (root gus), dorochair 74, dor[o]chuir 8, tor- 
chair 20, 24, 74, at-ro-chair 24, cor-ri-muid 6 = cor-re-muid 36, 
1 08 (root mat, Skr. math), t-anic 14 (root ank), ro-iarfaig 68 (root 
vak), do-attaig 72 (root tak), boi, ro-boi, 4, bai 74, ro-fo-dail 62, 
ro-s-cum-taig 34 (root stag), att-ib 24 (root pa). Deponential : 
genair, ge*nir 4, 56 (root gan), coemnacair 68 (root nank), for- 
coemnacair 34. Plural i : t-ancumar 64 PL 3 : acutar 62, itchon- 
catar 62, itconcatar 56, 122 (O. Ir. at-chonacatar), cualatar 38, 102, 
ebatar 8, docotar 34, dochuatar 78, 80, atchotar 34 == itchuatar 
60, fo-rai-langatar 82, r-ancatar 6, 22, t-ancotar 8, batar 112, 
ro-batar 2. 

Reduplicated Future. Sg. i : ni geb-sa 14, atber-sa 22, dingen 
26, doge"n 40, 68, dogen-sa 62, ni rag 36, ni-t-get-sa 64. Absolute 
form: berut-sa 100, regut 52. Sg. 2 : raga 12, atbera 62, do-s- 
brai 64, com-bera-su 100, getai 64. Sg. 3: dobeVa 22, 62,66, 
do-s-bera 12, atbera 22, eberai 40, no-s-faiceba 120 (root gab), 
doraga 62, 98, 100. Absolute form : beraid 54, gebid 94. Rela 
tive form: gebus qui capiet 32, gebus qui cantabit 38, gignes 32. 
Plural i : dogenum-ne 26, taircebum-ne 70. PL 2 : fogebthai 80 
(where an absolute is wrongly used for a subjoined form). PL 3 : 
friscerut (= fris-d-gerat ?) 18. Passive: doberthar 28, dobertar 
38, tiberthar 118. 

Reduplicated Secondary Future. Sg. i : rofogenaind* 70. Sg. 
3 : noragad 18, tomelad 70. 3d sg. passive : no-tusemtha 56. 

T-preterite. Sg. i : do-r-arngert-sa 38. Sg. 3 : 40. roiarfacht 
54, r-iarfacht 52, 56, eracht, erracht 24, atracht 8, deracht 118, 
toracht 16, 20, roacht 70, daruacht 14, dorocht 34, ro-siacht 22, 
32, arroet 84 ( = ar-ro-fo-em-t), roforcongart 16, dorogart 56, 
do-r-arngert 40, 98, r&lt;5edbairt 104, epert 2, atbert 8, atrubairt 20, 
28, erbairt 94, 98, erbailt 16, epilt 92, doromailt 102, atbath 6, 
luid 30, 1 08, dolluid 98, doluid 122. PL 3 : lotar 58. 

T-futures are apparently canta no, bidat 54, 80. But these 
forms are very obscure. In scerdait (leg. scerdait), 1 10, we seem 
to have a mixture of reduplicated and t- forms : in genfedit 28, 
a mixture of b- and t- forms. 

* Here and elsewhere in this page I have supplied the mark of length 
which, owing to the scribe s carelessness, is wanting in the manuscript. 



Preface. xi 

S-future. Sg. i : atfessar (leg. adfesur?*) 42. Sg. 2 : dechais 
44 (3d sg. pret. dechaid 16, root KAD, Skr. cad, Lat. cadere). 
Sg. 3: forbia 18 (= farfia Ml. 550). tii 28, ti 38, 62, tair 8, 66. 
PI. i : roissam 46, risam 124, fessamar 24. Passive sg. 3: essair 
1 20. 

Reduplicated S-future. Sg. i : do-bibus-sa 52. 

Secondary S-futtire. Sg. 2 : tista-su 14. Sg. 3 : ti sed 58, tisad, 
roissed 74. 

Forms which appear to be corruptions are fortachtfuidea 42, 
foillsigfides 100, ropsam 120. 



In printing the text I have extended the contractions, always 
representing the extensions by italics. In a very few instances, I 
have corrected an obvious blunder of the scribe, giving, however, 
in a footnote the reading of the manuscript. The proclitics (the 
article, possessive and relative pronouns, verbal particles, verb 
substantive when used as a copula, prepositions, certain conjunc 
tions, negative particles, and the interjection a) have been printed 
as they are written in the manuscript, viz., as part of the word to 
which they respectively belong. The same course has been fol 
lowed as regards the pronominal enclitics -sa, -su, -sin, -side, -som, 
(-sium), -so, (-seo). The dotted f and the digraph fh represent 
not only infected or (as native grammarians say) aspirated, f, but 
also f changed in pronunciation to v, owing to the influence of a 
preceding nasal. 



Lastly, I have to say a few words as to the translations. That 
of the homily on Patrick is founded on a manuscript version by the 
late Dr. O Donovan, lent me, many years ago, either by Dr. Todd 
or Dr. Reeves. It obviously never received O Donovan s final 
revision. Thus dorchataid, p. 4, is misrendered by servitude : 
clarenech, p. 6, by cripple/ buan bann, p. 1 8, by for ever, berrtha, 
p. 20, by fat, aes gradai, p. 22, by servants of trust/ abraf, p. 24, 
by I will say/ erlund, p. 32, by top^ancnde, p. 34, by enmity/ 
7 rocumtaigtea ocpatraic ifoss, p. 36, by and Patrick erected here 
in Ireland. Hitagar dul, p. 36, by There went/ deoraid,p. 40, 
by kingship/ atfessar duib mmo, p. 42, by ye know the man/ 
fri fomtin, p. 42, to evade. I cite these errors, not with any base 
delight in picking holes in the unfinished work of a great scholar, 

* Perhaps from adfiadaimm refcro, not atfetar as I have said in the Index 
of Words, p. 142 infra. 



xii Preface. 

but simply to excuse myself for not printing O Donovan s version 
precisely as it left his hands. 

The translation of the homily on Brigit is wholly by myself, 
and those who have (what I have not) access to Cogitosus life 
of that saint* will doubtless find much to correct therein. 

The translation of the homily on St. Columba is founded on 
a manuscript version, either by O Donovan or the late Mr. Curry. 
I suspect it was made by the latter, as it contains a note with his 
initials ( E. C. ) on the expression coer comraicc, p. 96. This ver 
sion required much amendment. For instance, arrachf, p. 92, is 
misrendered by monsters : an ben imtha sin, p. 100, by a woman 
that envied her :_/h &lt;z muir anair, p. 102, by by the sea on the 
east, iarmergt, pp. 106, 124, by matins : clere fila for a lar 
canta molta maic thigirnd, p. no, by clerics and poets within its 
centre shall sing laudations to noble chiefs : brodirne, p. 114, by 
shred : dia rechullsom, p. 120, by of his episcopal vestments : 
methil, p. 120, by workmen : no cosmad, 124, by he blessed. 

Of all three homilies it may be said that the fragments of 
verse which they contain are often corrupt, and that the transla 
tion of those fragments is, therefore, to some extent conjectural. 
Compare, for instance, the verses in p. 1 8 infra with the reading 
in Egerton 93, p. 2 b. 2 : 

Bendacht de for dichuin dorat damsa in saball. 

rombi esum dar he"issi. nemthech ngleisi nglanoll. 

Bendacht d for dichuin dichu co lin cro. 

ni baisfer nach buan bann clann na ciniud d6. 
And the verses in p. 36 infra with the reading in Rawl. B. 512, 
p. 13 b. 2 : 

Attagar techt hi cruaich cruind druing cen crabz^/ armocinn. 

romgab ecla fri st sell deich c// cenn ic tacra frim. 
Several errors which I discovered after the sheets had been worked 
off, are set right in the Corrections and Additions, pp. 138 140, 
infra, to which I beg the particular attention of the few scholars 
who will care to read this book. 

February 2%th, 1877. W. S. 

* Printed in the Acta Sanctorum at Febr. i, in Colgan s Triadis Thau ma- 
lurgqe ... Acta, Lovanii, 1647, and probably elsewhere. 



I. 

BETHA PHATRAIC. 



ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK. 



xii Preface. 

but simply to excuse myself for not printing O Donovan s version 
precisely as it left his hands. 

The translation of the homily on Brigit is wholly by myself, 
and those who have (what I have not) access to Cogitosus life 
of that saint* will doubtless find much to correct therein. 

The translation of the homily on St. Columba is founded on 
a manuscript version, either by O Donovan or the late Mr. Curry. 
I suspect it was made by the latter, as it contains a note with his 
initials ( E. C. ) on the expression coer comraicc, p. 96. This ver 
sion required much amendment. For instance, arrachf, p. 92, is 
misrendered by monsters : an ben imtha sin, p. 100, by a woman 
that envied her :_/ra muir anair, p. 102, by by the sea on the 
east, iarmergi, pp. 106, 124, by matins : clere fila for a lar 
canta molta maic thigirnd, p. no, by clerics and poets within its 
centre shall sing laudations to noble chiefs : brodirne, p. 114, by 
shred : dia rechulhom, p. 120, by of his episcopal vestments : 
methil, p. 120, by workmen : no cusmad, 124, by he blessed. 

Of all three homilies it may be said that the fragments of 
verse which they contain are often corrupt, and that the transla 
tion of those fragments is, therefore, to some extent conjectural. 
Compare, for instance, the verses in p. 1 8 infra with the reading 
in Egerton 93, p. 2 b. 2 : 

Bendacht d6 for dfchuin dorat damsa in saball. 

rombi esum dar he issi. nemthech ngleisi nglanoll. 

Bendacht d for dichuin dichu co lin cro. 

ni baisfer nach buan bann clann na ciniud do. 
And the verses in p. 36 infra with the reading in Rawl. B. 512, 
p. 13 b. 2 : 

Atta"gar techt hi cruaich cruind druing cen crabw^ armocinn. 

romgab ecla fri set sell deich cet cenn ic tacra frim. 
Several errors which I discovered after the sheets had been worked 
off, are set right in the Corrections and Additions, pp. 138140, 
infra, to which I beg the particular attention of the few scholars 
who will care to read this book. 

February 2%th, 1877. -yy g 



* Printed in the Ada Sanctorum at Febr. i, in Colgan s Tnadis Thau ma- 
tvrgqe ... Acta, Lovanii, 1647, and probably elsewhere. 



I. 

BETHA PHATRAIC. 



ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK, 



[BETHA PHATRAIC INCIPIT.] 

Lebar Brecc p. 24, b //. I 29. 



[Pjopulus qui sedebat in tenebris uidit lucem magnam. INpo- 
pul deisicf indorchuib afrwmaircc sollsi moir. Et sedentibus in 
regione et in umbra mortis lux orta est eis. INf*oirenn robatar 
hiferund 7 ifhoscad bais. fuaratar sollsi diatanic aninorchugud. 

INspir/ noem inspire/ isuaisliu inas cech spirw/. inspire/ dorm- 
fid indeclas cechtarda fetarlacthi 7 nuafiad#tfzre o rath ecna 7 fatsine. 
ise inspire/ sin roraid na briaMrasin trz agin inpnmfatha ysaias mzc 
amois. De cuius laude dicitur quod non tarn dicendus esset pro- 
pheta quam euangelista. IS diamoladside atfv/t cirine noem. conid 
c6ra suiscelaig dorada fr/ ss andas faitfi. arafollsi 7 araimchuibdhe 
fnanufiadw^z je roindis scela crw/. ITa enim uniuersa christi 
ecclesieque misteria ad lucidum prosecutus est ut non eum putes 
de future uaticinari sed de [prae]terito historian! texere. Arroboi 
dia follsi roindis uli mine cm/ 7 naheckri noime. connabud doig 
lanech combad taircetul raet todocha^ itzr dogneth. acht aisnes 
raet reimtechtach chena iarfbrpthiugud angnima. 



Oen \ra diathairc^/laib fdllsib ani atfiadar sund tm aiswj sech- 
madataz . 

Populus qui sedebat in tenebris uidit 1. m. INpopul dessid 
indorchuib ifcwmairc sollsi mair. ise immurro leth atoibe indais- 
neisea lasinfaith codii indep^rt remi isinsceol c//na. Pnmo tempore 
alleuatazabulonet terra neptalim. Tanic lahathniug^namsire. gloir 
mor 7 inocbail dothreb zabuloin 7 dothreb neptahiw. inde dicitur. 
conid forslicht nambria/^arsin atberar. Populus qui sedebat in tenebris. 
INpopul deisid indorch^. mad iarstair cipinnas. pop*// isra^l [ise"] 






ON THE LIFE OF SAINT PATRICK. 



Populus qui sedebat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam. The people 
that sat in darkness beheld a great light. Et sedentibus in regione et 
in umbra mortis lux orta ets. They that were in the land and in 
the shadow of death found a light whence came their illumination. 

The Holy Spirit, the spirit which is nobler than every spirit, 
the spirit which inspired both churches of the Old Law and of the 
New Testament with the grace of wisdom and prophecy, it was 
that spirit which spake those words through the mouth of the 
chief prophet Isaiah son of Amoz ; de cujus laude dicitur quod 
non tam dicendus esset propheta quam evangelista. -To praise him, 
St. Jerome said that it were meeter to call him an evangelist than 
a prophet, because of the clearness and the fitness for the New 
Testament wherewith he told the tidings of Christ. I/a enim uni- 
versa Christi ecclesiaeque mysteria ad lucidum prosecutus est ut non eum 
putes defuturo vaticinari sed de praeterito historiam texere. For such 
was the clearness wherewith he told all the mysteries of Christ 
and the Holy Church that one would not think that it was a pro 
phecy of things to come he was making, but a declaration of 
things already foregone after they had been done completely. 

Now one of his manifest prophecies is what is here set forth 
through a narrative of what is past. 

Populus qui sedebat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam. The people 
that sat in darkness beheld a great light. Now the prophet has a 
parallel passage as far as the place where previously in the 
same story he said primo tempore allevata terra Zabulon et terra Nep- 
talim, there came with .... of time, great glory and renown to the 
tribe of Zabulon and to the tribe of Naphtali. Inde dicitur, after 
these, words he said, Populus qui sedebat in tenebris. The people who 
sat in darkness if [we go] according .to history, this was the people 



4 Betha Phatralc, Lelar Brecc, p. 24 b , //. 30-63. 

sin robdi indorchataid nadaire lahasardu. afewmairc sdllsi athaith- 
creca dondairesin .i. hestras 7 nemias iosuae 7 zorobel. mad iarsians 
tra ise sin popw/ atb^rar sund. popw/ nang^nti roboi indorchataid 
aneolais ocddrad hidal 7 arracht. c&n coroartraig infirsdllsi .i. isu 
cm/ &lt;r0[a]asp0/u. Nox enim erat in mundo usque dum christus qui 
sol iustitie est radios suos aspersit in mundum. Uair b&lt;5i dorchotu 
mdr 7 temel darchroidib nang/nti. ce"in coroscdil gn an nafirinde. isu 
cm/, aruthni fd cetlwraird indomain diainsorchugud. 



Oen \.ra donaruthnib rosesreid gnan nafirinde isindomun .i. 
inruithen 7 inlassar 7 inlia Idgmar 7 inlocharnd loinderdai roin- 
sorchaig iarthar in betha 1 .i. sanctus patricius episcopus .i. Noem- 
pdtm/ c ardepsft?/ iarth^/r betha. 1 athat r baitsi 7 cretmi fer 



ISand tra innister 7 atfiadar ni da fertaib 7 diamirbulib 
donatusmidib 2 ongenir. 7 diabunad thalmda intfi noempatraic 
ineckjib na cm/aide 3 .i. x. ui. kl. apreil arai lathi mis graie insin 
7 rL 

Patraic din. do bretnaib ailcluaide 4 acenel. Calpruind ainmm 
aatruzr. uasalsacart esside. O tid ainm asenathar. deochain ata- 
cdmnacside. C&lt;?chess immurro ainm amaMar. ingen ochbais do 
francuib acenel .i. smr do martain 5 hf, 

Patraic tra mac calpruind m^ otide rm c ddissi irnc gorniuth 
mic lub^wiuth mic mercuit mi c otta im c muric mic oricc mic leo 
mtc maxim mic ecreti mic eresi mtc felesti mz c ferine mic britti. 
diatatt bretnaig. 

Bat^r .u. sethracha acca .i. lupait. 7 tigris. 7 darercca ocus 
liamain. 7 richell. 

INnemthur tra rogenir. 7 inlecc forsangenair .i. cech oen 
dogni luga neithig fothi dofuissim usce ama/ bid occained ingu- 
fhdrcill dobeth. Madfir aluga tairisid inchloch in[a]aicniud choir. 



1 Ms. bethad. 2 Ms. tusmigib. 3 Ms. cmfaige. 

* Ail Cluaide lit. rock of Cluad (now Clyde) == cloda, hlutr, lauter. 
5 S. Martin of Tours is meant. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 



of Israel who were brought into the gloom of slavery by the 
Assyrians. They beheld the light of their redemption from that 
captivity, to wit, Hesdras and Nehemias, Jeshua and Zembbabel. 
But if [we go] according to the spiritual sense, the people men 
tioned here are the people of the gentiles who were in the darkness 
of ignorance, adoring idols and images until the true Light arose, 
to wit, Jesus Christ with his apostles. Nox enim erat in mundo usque 
dum Christus, qui soljustitia est, radios suos aspersit in mundum. For 
there was great darkness and dimness over the hearts of the heathen 
until the Sun of righteousness, Jesus Christ, scattered his splen 
dors throughout the four quarters of the world to enlighten it. 

Now one of the splendors which the Sun of righteousness 
shed upon the world was the splendor, and the flame, the pre 
cious stone and shining lamp which enlightened the west of the 
world, Sanctus Patricius Episcopus, to wit, holy Patrick, high 
bishop of the west of the world, father of the baptism and belief 
of the men of Ireland. 

Now the day whereon they tell and set forth, in the churches 
of the Christians, somewhat of his miracles and marvels, and of the 
parents of whom he was born, and of the earthly stock of the 
holy Patrick, is the sixteenth of the Kalends of April as to the day 
of the solar month. 

Now Patrick s race was of the Britons of Dumbarton. Cal- 
purn was his father s name, a high priest was he. Otid (Potitus) 
was the name of his grandfather : he was a deacon. But Con- 
chess was his mother s name : daughter was she of Ochbas : of 
France was her race, that is, she was a sister of Martin s. 

Patrick, then, (was) son of Calpurn, son of Otid, son of 
Odisse, son of Gorniuth, son of Lubeniuth, son of Mercut, son of 
Otta, son of Muric, son of Oricc, son of Leo, son of Maximus, 
son of Ecretus, son of Eresus, son of Felestus, son of Ferinus, son 
of Brittus, from whom are the Britons. 1 

He had five sisters, namely, Lupait and Tigris and Darerca 
and Liamain and Richell. 

At Nemthur, now, was he born, and (as to) the flagstone on 
which he was born, when any one commits perjury thereunder, 
it sheds water as if it were bewailing the false declaration. If the 
oath is true the stone abides in its proper nature. 

1 See Flann Manistrech s version of this legendary pedigree in the Four 
Masters, A. D. 432. 



Bet ha Phatraic, Lelar Erecc, p. 



Orogenir immurro intn noem patrazh ise leth ruccad diabaitsed 
cusmmac dall clarenech. gormas aainmsium. acht nirabi usce acca 
asand/rnad inbathis. Cotarut airdhi na crochi dolaim na ndiden 
darsintalrmwz. corrfmaid topur usci ass. Dosrat gornias inus^? 
foagnuis [p.25 a ] feisin. 7 rosicc foc/$//oir. 7 rothuicestar nalittrz 
c6in co facctf iat remi riam. Dorigne dia tra firt tredai sund 
fochetoii arpaVtfz c .i. intopur usci asintalmain 7 arose donm^c dall. 
7 eolas arlegind do urd na baiste cenaichne na litter remi riam. 
Robaitsed din. patraic iarsin. 



Roalt tra intn noempatra/&lt;r innemtur combagilla. 7 islia turim 
7 aisnds arand&lt;?rna incoimdiu fair dofertaib 7 mirbulib ina noiden- 
&acht 7 inagilla(cht). arboi rath de inachomaitecht incer/^ais. ocus 
incer^ni dognid. acht aisnedfimne uati dohilib dib. 



Fecht and dolluid tdla usa isintech ambdi patraK corusbmd 
intenid uli. 7 combatar nalestair forsnam. Luid p&traic iarsin 
coport tirimm boi isintig. corthiimm a .u. mera isin usce. 7 roptar 
(5ible tened na .u. banni silset estib. corohadannad inteni sin 
isintig. 7 nirosartraig intus^ foc/^#oir. Romorad ainm de 7 ndem- 
pztrat c and tmsinfhirtsin. 



Feet aile dosb^rt pztraic utlach dobissib digrid conusleic forlar 
ifiadw^e amuime. Bamou rancwwar aless brosna cnnaig dun 
fortenid ol amumi. &lt;r^id andsin tuc pdtraic indigriud forsintenid. 
7 dosrat aandil fdi. 7 Izssais amal cnnach. Romorad tra. ainm 
de* 7 patr^Jr desin. 



aile dolluid cu allaid corruc chairig leis opatrazc don 
tre ot. diamboi oc ingaire choerech. 7 rotcairig amumi he comdr 
foressbuid nacoerech. Diambdi immurro patraic is[in]inud c//na 
iarnabaruch tanic incu allaztf. corothaisselb incairig slain inafiad- 
naise. dr nirbo gndth aissec uad ^nicesin. Romorad sanm de 
ocus pa/raic insin. 



ele dolluid pdtraic immaille fnaaide indail mbretan 
Orancator c/^inddil atbath in[t]aide dodianbds. orosairigtra patrai c 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 



Now when the holy Patrick was born, he was brought to 
be baptized to the blind flat-faced youth named Gornias. But 
Gornias had not water wherewith the baptism could be per 
formed, so with the infant s hand he made the sign of the 
cross over the earth, .and a wellspring of water brake therefrom. 
Gornias put the water on his own face, and it healed him at once, 
and he understood the letters (of the alphabet), though he had 
never seen them before. Now here at one time God wrought a 
threefold miracle for Patrick, the wellspring of water from the earth, 
and his eyesight to a blind youth, and skill in reading aloud the 
order of baptism without knowing the letters beforehand. There 
after Patrick was baptized. 

The holy Patrick was reared at Nemthur until he was a lad ; 
and it were overmuch to recount and declare what the Lord 
wrought for him of miracles and marvels in his childhood and in 
his boyhood, for the grace of God accompanied him at every age 
and in every thing that he did. But we will relate a few of the 
many of them. 

Once upon a time came a flood of water into the house 
wherein was Patrick, and quenched all the fire, and the vessels 
were afloat. Patrick then went to a dry place which was in the 
house and dipt his five fingers into the water, and the five drops 
which trickled from them became sparks of fire, and that fire 
was kindled in the house, and the water at once ceased to rise, 
and God s name and Saint Patrick s were magnified through that 
miracle. 

At another time Patrick brought a lapful of pieces of ice and 
left them on the floor in the presence of his fostermother. " We 
rather need a faggot of withered sticks for fire," said his foster- 
mother. Then Patrick put the ice upon the fire, and breathed 
under it, and it blazed like withered sticks. So God s name and 
Patrick s were magnified thereby. 

At another time a wolf went and carried off a sheep of the 
flock from Patrick when he was shepherding ; and his fostermother 
rebuked him much for the loss of the sheep. But as Patrick was 
at the same place the next day, the wolf came and shewed the 
sheep safe before him, [which thing was a marvel] for up to that 
time restitution from him was not usual. God s name and Patrick s 
were magnified therein. 

At another time Patrick went along with his fosterfather to a 
meeting of the Britons. When they came to the meeting the 



8 Betha Phatrak, Lebar Brecc, p. 25% //. 32-64- 



Us aaide. attert fnss. Erig 7 tiagum diartig. htiicht foc^ /oir 
intaide aba s labrethir patraic. 



Techt ba dimdach amumi desium. arnatabrad mil da miltenaib 
ama/ doberiis mc becca inbaile diamotf rechuib. Lmaid p^raa: 
lestar asinsruth banessu d&lt;5. 7 rostowmach inusce corosoud immil. 
7 tucc diamumi comboi dochretraib aicci miccad ce^teidm ecus 



J?echt ann atbath mac aroli mnd nochungnad fnamumisium 
ocblegun ab6. Albert tra m/mi pdfraic tuc latt dom^c isinairge 
indiu f. [leg. feib] dob^rthea cerA lai 7 dordnad amlaid. Diam- 
bater Ira namna ocblegun 7 inm^c marb forlar nabuailed. dobert 
amwwmi lemn^/ do pff/ra/r . 7 atb^rt fns gair chucat thfer cumtha 
cwasebi cumaid arsen fritt. Albert pdfraic tair afhir chumtha con- 
w.$-ebem cumaid. 7 atracht fochetfh mmac abas fn gairm pdtraic 
corasebator cumaid \a.rum andi s. 



Jfecht de dopdfrat c 7 diashiair .i. lupait ocingaire choerech. 
cotancotar nahuain cohopund dochumm zmdthar ama/ babe s ddib. 
Otronairc pdtraic 7 asiur innisin. rorithset codian diaterpdd nan- 
iian. dorchuir iningen corasben acend fochloich cumbacomfocus 
bds di. Tanic patraic chucci cen fuirech. 7 dorat ardhe nacrochi 
darsincrecht corosla naig 1 cennach gakr de. 

fecht and luid amwwmi pdtraic doblegan bo. \uidsium do hdl 
dige \emr\achta. Dastar imon mboin isinbuale .i. demun tanic 
innte corw-miarb .u. bii aile. B6i torsi mor f&lt;?ramtt;;zmi domandar 
nambd. condepert fr/sium todw^cad nambd. Rodw^aig iarsin nabu 
7 hiccaid inmboin dasachtaig. 

fecht e!e f&lt;7rorcongair re^/aire inn g formwwmi patraic glanad 
tellaig inrigthige inailccluade. Tanic ira patraic conzmummi fors6t 
doglanad intellaig. Isannsin tanic intaingel cvpatraic condepert friss. 
Dena airnaigthe. 7 nibahecen duitt ingnfmsa. Dosgni ira patraic 



Ms. coroslanaid. 



On .the Life of St. Patrick. 



fosterfather died. of a sudden death. But when Patrick perceived 
his fosterer s death, he said to him, " Arise and let us go to our 
home." Straightway at Patrick s word the fosterfather arose from 
death. 

On a time his fostermother was unthankful to him because he 
brought no honey from the combs as the little boys of the hamlet 
were wont to bring to their mothers. Patrick fills a vessel out of 
the stream that was nearest to him, and he blessed the water, 
and it was turned into honey, and he gave it to his fostermother, 
so that she had it for relics, and it used to cure every disease and 
every illness. 

Once upon a time there died the son of a certain woman, 
who used to help his (Patrick s) fostermother in milking her kine. 
So the fosteress said to her Bring with thee thy (dead) son into the 
cowshed this day, as thou wert used to bring him every day, and 
thus was it done. Now as the women were milking, and the dead 
child on the floor of the byre, his fosteress gave new milk to Patrick, 
and said to him " Call to thee thy comrade that he as well as thou 
may drink it." Patrick said " Come, my comrade, that we may drink 
it together," and at Patrick s call the boy arose at once from death, 
and then they both drank it equally together. 

At another time as Patrick and his sister Lupait were herding 
sheep, the lambs came, as was their wont, suddenly to their 
mothers. When Patrick and his sister saw that, they ran swiftly 
to separate the lambs, and the girl fell down, and her head struck 
against a stone, so that death was near her. Patrick came to her 
without delay, and made the sign of the cross over the wound so 
that he healed it without any disease therefrom. 

Once upon a time Patrick s fostermother went to milk a cow, 
and he went to drink a draught of new milk. The cow goes mad 
in the byre. A devil entered into her so that she killed five other 
kine. Great sadness was upon his fostermother for the destruction 
of the kine, and she told him to bring them to life. Thereafter he 
brought the (dead) kine to life and the mad cow he cures. 

At another time the king s steward ordered Patrick s foster- 
mother to cleanse the hearth of the palace at Dumbarton. So 
Patrick came with his fostermother on the way to cleanse the hearth. 
Then the angel came to Patrick and said to him " make prayer, and 
this work will not be needed of thee." So Patrick prayed, and the 



io Betha Patraic, Lelar Brecc, pp. 25 a -25 b . 

airnaigthe 7 rosglan intaingel intellach in&dchesin. Aiberi pdtraic 
iarnabarach cianoloiscthe connud brettan uli forsin tellach nabud 
cen aglanad cobrdth. amal comaillter sin beos. 

[p. 25 b.] Fecht de dolluid re^/aire inrig dochunchid gr^tha 
7 imme comummi pdtraic. 7 niroibe ecci ni dob^rad isincis. conid 
annsin dorigne patraic ingruth 7 innimm donshnechta corructha uad 
donrig. Orotaisselbad ira donrig sin roscdig 1 inanaicned fn. 
Rosmaith iarsin inrig incis do pdtraic dogre s. romorad ira ainm 
d^ 7 patraic triasinfhirtsin. 



Andorigne ira patraic dofertaib 7 dadamruib inanoidendor^/. 
isnatfrib sin. nihetir fmnech atuirem naV^ anaisn^s. 



Isheseo din. tuirthmd tidechta "p&iraic docum nerenn. uii. m&lt;?zc 
sechtmaid .i. uii. meic rig bretan batar forlongais. Doronsat 
orcuin itir mbfetan. 7 batar ulaid immalle firm, cotucsat p&irai c leo 
himbroit dochumm nerenn. 7 adi siair .i. tigris 7 lupart conw^rensat 
pdtratc friamiliucc mac hm buain .1. fr/rig dal araide. 7 fhathriar 
mbrdthar. 7 rensat adfshiair uwzaille miiirthemni. 7 nimafitir doib. 
7 niconfitir nech dib ciatir inroreccad aroile. 



Dofhognad ira pafraic donrig 7 diatrmr brdlhar. conid airesin 
tuccad fair innainm iscothraige .i. mog cethrair. Batar din 2 .{iff. 
hanmand fair .i. succait aainmm othwrtidib. 3 cothraige diamboi 
ocfognum doncethrur. magonius (.i. magis agens) aainm icger- 
man. pa/ricius (.i. pater ciuium .i. athair nacath^rda) aainm 
ic[c]omorba petair (.i. celis[tinus]). 

Otawnairc ira mfliucc corbamog iresach pdfraic rochennaig 
ontrmr aile corofhognad dd aoenur. 7 rofhogain dd cocend secht 
mbli adan fob^s nanebra^. 7 ised roherbad do ingaire mucc indith- 
rebu 4 slebi miss. 

Ticced immurro uictor aingel dia acallaim 7 diaforcetul imchra- 

bud dode"num .i. cet slechtain etch Mithi 7 cet etch noidche dognid. 

1 Ms. roscaid. 2 The facsimile has dit 3 

4 Over the d is a dot. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. n 

angel cleansed the hearth that night. Patrick said on the morrow 
that if all the firewood of Britain were burnt on the hearth, it need 
not be cleansed till Doom. So it is still fulfilled. 

At another time the king s steward went to demand curds and 
butter of Patrick s fostermother, and naught had she which she could 
give for the tribute. Then of the snow Patrick made the curds and 
the butter, and they were taken from him to the king. Now 
when those things were shewn to the king, they changed into their 
own nature. After that, the king always forgave the tribute to 
Patrick, so God s name and Patrick s were magnified through that 
miracle. 

But the number of miracles and of wonders which Patrick 
in his childhood wrought in those lands, it is not possible for any 
one to enumerate or relate them. 

Now this was the cause of Patrick s coming to Ireland. 
Seven sons of Sechtmad, to wit, seven sons of the King of 
Britain, were in exile. They wrought rapine in the land of Britain, 
and Ulstermen were along with them, and so they brought Patrick 
in captivity to Ireland, and his two sisters Tigris and Lupait, and 
they sold Patrick to Miliucc maccu Buain, that is, to the King of 
Dalaraide 1 , and to his three brothers, and they sold his two sisters 
in Conaille Muirthemne, 3 and nothing was well known of them, 
(that is) and no one of them knew into what land another was 
sold. 

Now Patrick served the king and his three brothers, where 
fore there was given unto him the name of Cothraige, that is, the 
slave of four persons. Now four names had he, to wit, Succet, his 
name from his parents : Cothraige, when he served the four per 
sons: Magonius (i. e. magi s agens), his name with Germanus: 
Patricius (that is, father of the citizens ) his name with Peter s 
successor, Celestinus. 

Now when Miliucc saw that Patrick was a faithful slave, he 
bought him from the other three that he might serve him alone. 
And he served him to the end of seven years after the custom of 
the Hebrews, and what was committed unto him was the herding 
of swine in the wildernesses of Sliab Mis. 3 

Howbeit, Victor an angel, used to come to speak unto him, 
and to teach him as to performing devotion, that is, one hun- 

1 A territory in the east of Ulster. 

2 A level country in the present county of Louth, extending from the river 
Boyne to the mountains of Cuailgne, or Carlingford, O D. 

3 Now Slemmish in the county of Antrim. 



12 Betha Phalraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 25 



Oroboi tra patraic .ufi. mblizdna oc fognum fobe*s nane*braide. 
ztbert intaingel fn ss hifhis. Bene oras 7 bene ieiunas cito iturus 
eris ad patriam tuam .i. ismaith dogni ernaigthe. ismaith dogni 
aine. raga coluath cotathardai fodein. 

Rochomfocsig tra aimser thuaslaicthe pa/rate addire arno- 
chlechtatis nag&lt;?nti saerad amogad ism j^/mad \Aiadain. Ondim- 
raided immurro 1 miliucc indus noastfad intii patraic rochendaig 
cumai l corw^naisc dopatraic hi. Orocuirtha hitech foleth aidche 
nabaindsi. isandsin prz tchais patrai c donchumail corothochathitis 
innuli naidche ocernaigthe. ISinmatain iarnabaruch at^wmairc 
patraic ingelchrecht hindreich nacum/7e. 7 roiarfaig 2 di fochann 
inchrechtai. Albert inchuma/. intan basa innemthur imbretnaib. 
darochdr corw^ben mochend frzcloich cwwba focus bas dam. Ot- 
connzirc mobrdihair .i. succet increcht. dorat ardhe crochi cm/ 
tairis combahdgshlan foc^?oir. ISed atbert patraic messi fa 
dobrathair. 7 isme roticc. gniset insin atlugud dodia 7 tiagait 
isindithreb. 

Orobdi tra patraic isindithr3. itchuala guth indaingil atb^red 
friss. ISfairithe inlong rowdecasu innte cohetail dofogluim na- 
screpttm. Albert patraic nimtha l(5g do (5r domthig^rnai. 7 nichom- 
arlecfi chena dam. Albert intaingel fhssium. feith intret indiu 
7 atcierasu torcc icclaide intalman. 7 dosb^ra maiss noir ass ocu 
tabair dotchind dottig&lt;rna. 7 imthig asintirsea do fogluim ecnai: 
7 crabuid. roscometsww intorcc 7 fuair inmaiss do or. 7 dosrat 
darachend dathig^na 7 roscomairlec alecud uad arbafailid fnsino r. 



Luid pa/rate iarsin forfecA/. 7 fuair luing wafoinnd dog?ntib. 
7 fuair failte accu. 7 rucsat leo h&lt; darmuir. BahaitAr^ch tra fria 
athigmia .i. fn miliuc alecud ass. Dochuaid inadiaid 7 nitharraa/ 
he 7 niroscar int(5r iarsin. 

Roergab^/ din hicreich intii patraic fora s? coraba accu fnre 
damis. dosgni pa/ra^ ernaigthi 7 roshasr dia he coiocM slan coa- 
thwtidib. 3 Roatachsat athiwtide* he corothairis accu osin amach 

1 Ms. hautem. * Ms. roiarfaid. Ms. thurtigib. Ms. athwrtige. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 13 

dred genuflexions every day and a hundred every night he used to 
make. 

Now when Patrick had been serving seven years, after the 
custom of the Hebrews, the angel said to him in a vision " Bern 
oras et bene jejunas, cito iturus eris ad patriam tuam" that is, well 
thou prayest, well thou fastest, quickly shalt thou go to thine 
own fatherland. 

Now the time of Patrick s release from bondage drew nigh, 
for the heathen were wont to free their slaves in the seventh yean 
As Mfliucc could not think how (else) he could detain Patrick, he 
bought a bondmaid and wedded her to Patrick. On the bridal r 
night, when they were put into a house apart, then Patrick 
preached to the bondmaid, and they spent the whole night in 
prayer. On the next morning Patrick beheld the white scar on 
the bondmaid s face, and he asked of her the cause of the scar. 
Said the bondmaid, " when I was in Nemtur in Britain, I fell, and 
my head struck against a stone, so that death was near me. When 
my brother Succet beheld the wound, he made the sign of 
Christ s cross over it, so that I was well at once." Patrick said 
this" I myself am thy brother, and I am he that healed thee." 
They then gave thanks to God, and go into the wilderness. 

Now when Patrick was in the wilderness, he heard the voice 
of the angel, saying to him, " Ready is the ship wherein thou 
mayest fare to Italy to learn the scriptures." Said Patrick, " I have 
not the price (of my ransom) in gold for my lord, and without 
that he will not allow me (to leave him)." The angel said to him, 
"Mind thou the herd to-day, and thou wilt see a boar uprooting 
the earth, and he will bring a mass of gold thereout, and give thou 
that gold to thy lord for thy head, and fare forth from this land 
to learn wisdom and piety." He watched the boar and found the 
mass of gold, and gave it for his head to his lord, who consented 
to let him go, for he was glad at the gold. 

Patrick then went on (his) way, and found a ship with her 
crew of heathen. And he had welcome of them, and they took 
him with them oversea. His master Miliucc was sorry for letting 
him leave. He went after him; but Patrick tarried not, and 
Miliucc loved not the gold thereafter. 

Then Patrick on his road was captured in a foray, and he was 
with them (the reavers) for two months. Patrick made prayer, and 
God delivered him, so that he came safe to his parents. His parents 



14 Bet ha Phatralc, Lelar Brecc, pp. 25 b 2,6*. 

dogr/s. sed tamen tame intaingel chuice inachotlud conepistlib 
immdaib leis tnagoedeilg. 7 intan b6isium occanairlegend atchuala 
gair mor dondidenu ambronnaib amaithrech hicn chaib connacht. 
INmacradsin [p. 26a.] acaille fochlad. conidedso aibertis. ueni 
sancte patrici saluos nos facere. 

ISandsin dochuaid patraic dofbgluim ecna 7 cnzbuid inoir- 
th^desaH etaile cog&lt;?rman escop. 7 tarrw^tar accu .xxx. bliadan. 
ocfogluimm nascreptra noibe. 7 icacomalLz^/ cohumal inisel. ocus 
,xxx. aile aaes intan tanic cog^rman .xxx. \Aiadan do icafoglaim 
,lx. icpr^cept ineinww. 

Celebrais dog^rman. 7 dosb&lt;?r g^rman bend^tu lais. 7 teit 
uasalsacart leis diaforcill cucomorba petair imcechngrad .i. signe- 
iius cruimther aainmside. 

Luid \&gt;atraic iarsin formuir thorren. isann sin dorala aninis 
do. cona.cca intech nua 7 lanomain dec ann. 7 ifcwmairc senchail% 
crm indoras 1 intige. Cid das inchaillech ol patraic. INgen ingine 
damsa sin arintoclach 7 ismarb am#7/fozr do chri ne. Cid fodera 
sin olpatraic. Ciist dorala chucaind diambdi itir ddinib arintdc- 
lach. cond^rnswwarni fleid dd. B&lt;?wnachais artegdais 7 sind fen. ocus 
nitharaill inbennachtu arclannu 7 rotharngir duin cotistasu chucdind 
7 foracaib abachaill accaind diatabairt detsiu. Nigebsa olpatratc 
cotarda f6n dam. 



Taraill iarsin coaraile nuasal[epscop] cotarut grad nescwp 
fair. Dochuaidsium iarsin doroim 7 fuair onoir 7 oirmitin icrd- 
7 iconabbaid .i. celestinwj aainmsium. 



Isess/i/e rofhaid fer diamtir docum ner^w doshilad cretmi 
7 irse do feraib erenn .i. palladia aainm. conAib feraib .x. dopro- 
cept do goedelaib. arislacomorba petair lesugud naheorpa uli 
7 acendj. Odaruacht palladia hi crich laigen fri thoriss^r do 
nahii mac garrchon mc fotha/i/ mete echac/i laimd^rg mete mesin- 
corb 7 roindarb uadae. Araide robaist uati ann. 7 rofhoth^ trt 



1 The (/ is dotted. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 15 

besought him to abide thenceforward always with them. Sed tamen, 
the angel came to him in his sleep, having many letters in Gaelic, 
and when he was reading them out he heard a great cry from infants 
in their mothers wombs in the regions of Connaught. Those 
children were of Caille Fochlad, 1 and this is what they were saying, 
41 Veni Sancte Patrici salvos nosfacere" 

Then went Patrick to learn wisdom and piety in the south 
east of Italy, unto bishop German, and he tarried with him for 
thirty years, learning the holy scripture, and fulfilling it in humble 
and lowly wise. And another thirty years was his age when he 
went to German. Thirty years was he learning, sixty preaching in 
Ireland. 

He bade farewell to German, and German gave him his bless 
ing, and a chief priest went with him to testify of him to Peter s 
successor as to every grade, to wit, Segetius the priest was his name. 

Thereafter Patrick went upon the Tyrrhene sea : it was there 
he met with the island. He saw the new house and a young mar 
ried couple therein, and in the door of the house he beheld a withered 
old hag. " Who may the hag be ?" said Patrick, " She is a daught 
er s daughter of mine," replied the young man, "and her mother 
is dead of decay." " What caused that ?" said Patrick. " Christ 
came to us when he was among men," said the youth, " and we 
made a feast for him. He blessed our dwelling and ourselves. 
Now the blessing did not visit our children, and unto us he fore 
told that thou wouldst come to us, and he left his staff with us to be 
given to thee." " I will not take it," said Patrick, " until he himself 
gives it to me." 

Thereafter he went to a certain chief bishop, who conferred 
episcopal rank upon him. He afterwards fared to Rome, and found 
honour and reverence from the Romans and from the Abbot, whose 
name was Celestinus. 

He it was who had sent a man of his family to Ireland to sow 
belief and faith among the men of Ireland Palladius was his 
name, with twelve men, to preach to the Gael, for unto Peter s suc 
cessor belong the bettering of the whole of Europe, and the 
headship thereof. When Palladius arrived in the province of Lein- 
ster, Nathf, son of Garrchu, son of Fothad, son of Echaid Redhand, 
son of Mesincorb, withstood him and expelled him from thence. 

1 Near Killala in the county of Mayo. 



16 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 26*. 



cella ann .i. cell fine hifarcaib aliubra cotaissib poll 7 petazr \pcus 
tech na rdman 7 domnach airte]. 1 7 f0#erbailtsium aninis bretan, 
ocdul sair. f^widandsin roordaigset patraic uadib inaaps/a/ doctim 
nere. 7 atb^rtsat aingil fnssium tider^/ cosokw dociim nerc. 
Atb&lt;?rtsum naticfad corosaicilW fe"n incoimdiu. iarsin rofucc in- 
taingel inarboric letha cus m czthraig dianad ainm capua isl&b 
armdin., super ripam 2 maris tyrreni. corosacaill incoimdid isin 
lucsin. ama/ rosacaill m[o]ysi isleib sfna. 7 condepert 3 friss techt 
doprocept do goedelu. 7 cotarut bachaill isu dd ind. Conid doreir 
shenaid nardma 7 inaingil 7 inchoimded tanic pafratc docum 



Tanic iarsin for conair .xx. iiii. fer alin. 7 fuair noei forachind 
inerlaime M\\xacht mara bretan. intan tra tanic \&gt;atraic isincurach. 
isann bdi clam occuinchzi/ inaid fair. 7 nirobi inad fas \iir ann. 
corolaswfl* remi amach inimaltoir clochi forsandenad oifrend cech 
laei. sed tamen dorigne dia firt mor and .i. nidechazi/ incloch anich- 
tar. 7 nitharasar dianessi. acht rosnai imoncurach bacuairt cuto- 
lacht meirmn. 



ISandsin itownairc patraic circull trom dodemnaib timchell 
erenn .i. uide .ui. laa uathi forcechleth. 

Odharuacht patraic cohinb^r ndea hicn ch laigen. 7 coaroile 
fich comfocj. nf fuair failte inntib. 7 mallachais patraic aninb&lt;?rsin. 
conid etoirthech osin ille he. 7 cotanic muir darsintirsin. Nathii 
mac garrchon tra ise rodiult frf patraic. 

Teit patraic izrum tar muir cohull,tu. dosaigid mflicc rig dala- 
raite dopmrept anma d^. arisaccu rosboi anddire artMj comad do 
tdisech noprz tchad. comad chomlan infognam diachurp 7 daan- 
main. sed tamen tanic miliuc inaagaid cuslogu moraib dogewtib. 
con&otecQd he fothfr. uair roforcongart loegaire for firu erenn. conz- 
roslectis patraic fothfr. uair rothirchansatar adniide doloegazre 



These churches were situated in the territory of Ui-Garrchon, which was 

* "* f "" presart 



2 Facs. risam. The d dotted. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 17 



However, he baptized a few there, and founded three churches 
there, namely, Cellfine, where he left his books, with relics of 
Paul and Peter, [and the House of the Romans and Domnach 
Arte] and, going eastward, he died in the island of Britain : where 
fore then they ordered Patrick as an apostle from them to Ireland, 
and angels told him to go to Ireland promptly. He said that he 
would not go, until the Lord should speak unto himself. There 
after the angel brought him into Armoric Letha, to the city 
named Capua, in Mount Hermon, on the shore of the Tyrrhene 
sea, and the Lord spake to him at that place, as He had 
spoken to Moses on Mount Sinai, and told him to come to preach 
to the Gael, and He gave him the staff of Jesus : wherefore it was 
according to the will of the synod of Rome and of the angel and 
of the Lord that Patrick came to Ireland. 

He then fared forth on his road, four and twenty men were his 
number, and he found a ship in readiness before him on the 
strand of the sea of Britain. When Patrick came into the boat, 
a leper was asking him for a place, and there was no empty 
place therein. So he put out before him (to swim in the sea) the 
stone altar whereon he used to make offering every day. Sed /amen, 
God wrought a great miracle here, to wit, the stone went not to 
the bottom, nor did it stay behind. But it swam round about the 
boat [with the leper on it] until it arrived in Ireland. 

Then Patrick saw a dense ring of demons around Ireland, 
to wit, a six days journey from it on every side. 

When Patrick came to Inver Dea 1 in the territory of Leinster, 
and to a certain hamlet hard by, he found no welcome in them, and 
Patrick cursed that rivermouth, wherefore it is barren (of fish) 
from that to this, and the sea hath come over that land. Nathi, 
the son of Garrchu, was he who denied Patrick. 

Patrick afterwards passed over sea to Ulster to seek Miliuc, 
King of Dalaraide, to preach the name of God, as it was with him 
he was in servitude at first, that it might be to him he should first 
preach, and the service to Miliuc s body and to his soul might thus 
be complete. Howbeit Miliuc came against him with great hosts 
of heathens, and would not let him land, since Loegaire 2 had ordered 
the men of Ireland that they should not let Patrick on land : for his 
soothsayers had foretold to Loegaire, five years before, that Patrick 
would arrive in Ireland, to wit, Lochra and Lothrach and Luchat- 

1 *The mouth of the Vartry river in the County of Wicklow, O Don. 
- Overking of Ireland, A. D. 438. 



i8 Betha Phatraic, Lclar Brecc, pp. 26 a 26 b . 

tidecht patraic docum nerenn .u. \Aiadna remi feisin .i. lochra ocus 
lothrach 7 lucatmoel 7 renell ananmunna. 7 bahedso atb^rtis 

Ticfai taillcend tarmuir meircend 

abratt 1 toillcend. a crand 2 cromcend 

amias 3 anairthz wr athige 

fn scerut amter uli amra amra. 

Ocus traigfid czch flaithij 7 CQch adrad 7 ce^ cum^/a 
naba humal do. 7 isasaflaithiwj fe"n forbia cobrath. 

Dochuaid patraic \zrum inachurach cohinber slani. 7 tanic 
inaagfl/# dichil mc trechim. corogreis inaaghaid coin rdgeir b(5i 
occa, sed tamen dorat pa/rate ardhe nacr0chi coimdeta inahagaid. 
7 rogab infers fhathacda. Ne tradas domine b. a. con. f. 1. 1. ocus 
tarrw^ar incii isin inadsin 7 forfemid cor de. ISannsin ronocht^- 
tar dichu acloidem. 7 teit domarbad patraic. Dosfor patraic arde 
cr^chi cm/ inaagazif corfemid cor dochois no do laim de. larsin 
dosgni dichu ai/^rige 7 slechtais ifiadwaz^e patraic cotarut adgreir 
do. 7 rocreit innoendia. 7 robaitsed coslogu mora immaille fr/ss. 
7 dorat inferonnsin dodia 7 dop/r? c. Rochumtaig patraic eclas 
isininudsin. dianid ainm saball patraic indi u 7 rotharngir do 
dichoin. isann noragad dochum nime. 7 dorat b^nachtain moir 
dodichoin 7 diaclannaib ut dixit patraic insin. 



Bendacht de do dichoin romfoir imon saball 
ronbiasww diaessi innoemtech nglesed nglanoll. 
Bend^/ de for dichoin dichu dilcend cro 
nibahifornach buan ban eland nacined do. 
Luid patraic ia.mm doforcetul miliuc am^/ rotr/allst(7r. 
Oroscuala miliuc patraic forset chuca. iadais atech fair fen ocus 
fora, uli indmas. 7 dosbtr tenid fair md. coroloiscedsww cona.u\i 
drilliud. arnarochreted do patraic. Roairis patraic ocfegad natein- 
ed. 7 iss^ atb^rt. 

IN fer asaerbaid airi siut 
narocreted damsa 7 donchoimdiu 

1 .i. cochall. 2 .i. bachall. 



On the Life of Sf. Patrick. 19 

macl and Renell were their names, and this is what they used to 
say 

" An Adzehead shall come across stormy (?) sea : 
His mantle 1 hole-headed, his staff 2 crook-headed : 
His dish 3 in the east of his house : 
All his people shall answer Amen, Amen ; 
And every princedom and every worship and every might that 
will not be humble to him shall ebb away, and his own princedom 
shall abide for ever." 

Patrick went afterwards in his boat to Inverslany, 4 and there 
came against him Dichu, son of Trechem, and he set against him 
a fierce hound which he had. Sed tamen Patrick made the sign of 
the cross of the Lord against it, and he chanted the prophetic 
verse, ne tradas, Domine, bestiis animas confitentium tibt, and the 
hound stopt in that place and was unable to stir. Then Dichu 
bared his brand, and went to kill Patrick. Patrick made the sign 
of Christ s cross against him, so that he could not stir either foot 
or hand. Thereafter Dichu repented and knelt before Patrick 
and gave him his full will, and Dichu believed in the one God, 
and he and great hosts along with him were baptized, and 
he gave that land (whereon he was converted) to God and to 
Patrick. In that place Patrick built a church which is called 
Saball Patraic 5 to-day, and he foretold to Dichu that it would 
be there he should go to heaven. And he gave a great blessing 
to Dichu and to his children, ut dixit Patricius then 

God s blessing on Dichu who granted me the Barn. 
It shall remain after him the holy beautiful fine great house, 
God s blessing on Dichu, who forgives (?) blood : 
No children or race of his shall be for ever in hell. 
Patrick afterwards went to teach Miliuc as he had (before) 
proceeded. When Miliuc heard that Patrick was on his way to him, 
he closed his house upon himself and upon all his wealth, and he 
set fire to himself in it so that he was burnt with all his goods, in 
order that he might not believe in Patrick. Patrick, seeing the 
fire, stopt and he said 

" The man who had resolved (?) upon this 
That he might not believe in me and in the Lord, 

1 cowl. 2 crozier. 3 his altar. 

4 The estuary of the Slany a small river at the S. W. extremity of Strang- 
ford Lough, Todd. 

* Patrick s Barn. Now Saul in the County Down. 



20 Betha Phatraic, Lclar Brecc, p. 26 h . 

nibia rigc na oirechws uad cobrth 
7 aanimm aniffrmd tr/abithu. 

7 otrubai rt patraic nabria/^rasa roimpo dessel ina fr/thlorg 
doridisi itir nulad. cotorar/^/ mag ninis ] codichoin mac trechim. 
ocus roan and fr/re cian. 

Teit iarww patraic cosaball fodess copntchad do nls m0r 
trechim. isisedfe bdi inderlw^ fr/dun leth glasi* indess. Ata cathair 
becc and indiu. 7 brectain ahainmsium. dti hita escop loairnd. 

Diamboi patratc tra iarnas^t r&lt;?acca inmoethoclach ocingaire 
mucc. Mochoa aainmsium. pn tchats patraic d6 7 robaist. 7 roberr 
7 dorat sos&lt;r^7a. 7 menist/r do. 7 dorat do tra tan aile bachaill 
tucad doib odia. acend inucht patraic 7 acoss inucht mochoe. 
isi sin Ira indeittech mochoe noendromae. 7 doordaig muicc mb^rr- 
tha ce^a bliad do patraic 7 dob^rar fous 



Celebrais patraic dodichoin. 7 trz allaid do acalta loegaire 
cotemraig iarfairgi comag mbreg. 7 fuair failte moir isininad sin 
oc aroli fir uasal. 7 rochreit conzmuntir do. 7 rdbaitsed conid acca 
foracaib achurach. 



Mac becc boi isintig dorat seircc do patraic 7 gebis achois 
ocdul d(5 isincarp^/. 7 dilsigit anrmter do patraic he. 7 nosbr 
patraic leis &gt;nid hesin binen gilla patraic. 

ISandsin roecnaig aroli drui eccraibtech .i. mantais aainm 

do patraic. Fergaither patraic fris. 7 dobeir amwj do bachaill isu 

fair, cotordkwr ifiad^we nasldg. 7 corosluic talum he. conid desin 
ata. noconuil amain mdntais. 

Teit patraic iarsin cuferta fer feicc. Adhanntar tenid occa 
isininudsin ifescor nacasc. Fergaither loegaire otchi intenid 
arbahi sin geis temrach ocgoedeluib. 7 nilamad nech tenid dfhatdd 
ineinJwi isindlousin. ndcunadanta hitemraig artwj isinsollamain. ocus 

Now Lecale in the County Down, O Don., Four Masters A. M. S52 o 
Generally called Dun-dd-lethgla*, the fort of the two broken locks or fetters 
now Downpatrick. 






On the Life of St. Patrick. 21 



Nor kingdom or chieftainship shall be from him till Doom r 
And his soul shall be in hell for ever." 

And when Patrick had uttered these words he returned right- 
handwise by the same road again into the land of Ulster until he 
reached Mag Inis (and came) to Di chu, son of Trichem, and there 
he staid for a long time. 

Patrick went afterwards to Saball southward, and preached to 
Ross, son of Trichem. It was he that dwelt at Derlus to the south 
of Dun Lethglasse. A small town is there to- day whose name is 
Brechtain, the place wherein is Bishop Loairn. 

As Patrick was (going) along his way he saw the tender 
youth herding swine, Mochoa was his name. Patrick preached to 
him, and baptized and tonsured him and gave him a gospel 
and a reliquary, and at another time he gave him a crozier which 
had been sent to them from God, its head falling in Patrick s bosom 
and its foot in Mochoa s bosom. This is the Eittech of Mochoa 
of Noendruim 1 ; and he ordered a shaven pig (to be given) every 
year to Patrick, and it is still given. 

Patrick bade farewell to Dfchu, and proceeds to Tara to 
speak unto Loegaire. [He sailed] along the sea to Mag Breg, 
[and stopped at Inver Colptha, 2 ] and he found great welcome in 
that place from a certain gentleman who both believed in him 
with all his people and was baptized, wherefore with him he 
(Patrick) left his boat. 

A little boy that was in the house gave love to Patrick, and 
took hold of his leg as he was going into the chariot, and his 
family bestow him on Patrick, and Patrick takes him with him, 
and this is Bendn, Patrick s gillie. 

It was then a certain impious wizard named Mantais reviled 
Patrick. Patrick is enraged with him, and he makes a thrust of 
Jesus crozier at him, and he fell before the hosts, and the earth 
swallowed him, whence is [the saying] noconuil amain Mantais. 

Patrick went thereafter to Ferta Fer Feicc. 3 Fire is kindled 
by him at that place on the eve of Easter. Loegaire is enraged 
when he sees the fire. For that was a prohibition of Tara which the 
Gael had, and no one durst kindle a fire in Ireland on that day until 



1 Mahee Island. The Eiitech ( winged crozier) of Mochoa was so called 
from the belief that it was coditus missus, Reeves Columla 460. 

2 The mouth of the Boyne. 

3 Fiacc s (or FeccolV men s graves. Now Slane in Meath. 



22 Bet ha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 



atbcrtsatar [2ya] nadruide. mine baiter rianoidche anocht intene 
ut. bid laisintii isatene suit flaith erenn cobraih. 

Tune dixit rex. nibamlaid bess acht bid sinde nosricfasww oats 
ndsmuirbfe. Atraig inrig conaslogu dosaigid patraic dia marbad. 
Nirancatar immurro riand&lt;?riud didche. Orosiacht tra inrig com- 
focus. atbert adriiid fr/ss. naheircsiu chuicesium oleat narup 
comartha onora do. acht corapeisium tn cucatsu. 7 naherced nech 
remi. Daronad amkz &lt;/. Ofowmairc pa/rate naheich 7 nacarp?7 
isandsin rochan infersasa. hii in curribus 7 hii in equis. nos hautem 
in nomine domini dei nostri magni. acht nama dthanic patraic isin- 
oirecht. atracht remi m^c dega .i. epscop ercc fil icslani. 



ISandsin tanic cohesamain 7 cofergach m&gaid patraic oen 
donadraidib .i. lochru. 7 rosecnaig 1 don iris cm/aide. Tune sanc- 
tus patricius dixit. Amochoimdiu istii ^wmicc inuli. isatchum&lt;2^/u 
att/. istii ronfaid illcthsa. malartar nunc int^craibdechsa fil oce"c- 
nach thanmasu ifiadwaz!re chaich. 

Deniurad labrethir patraic tuarcaibset demnu isindasor indruid 
7 roslecset uadib fhlar coroben achend fncloich 7 condemn men 
ocus luaith de ifiadwazje chdich. corwjgab cnth 7 uamun dofuk^/a 
nasluaig bator and. 

Rofergaiged tra loegaire Sri patraic 7 toet diamarW. Otcon- 
nairc patraic tiduapairt nangenti inaagazi/. isandsin atbert oguth 
mor. Exurgat deus et disipinitur ini[mici]eius. Tanic talamchum- 
scugud mor 7 torand and. 7 goeth coroscail nacairpthiu 7 nagregu 
cofata forcechleth. corrancatar cobrig gride. 7 co sliab moenuir & d. 
7 comboi cdch dib anar achele tramalkzc&ain patraic. ^warfacbad 
ifail inrig acht oenchethrur isininudsin .i. he fen 7 asetig 7 dias dia 
ses gradai. 

Orwjgab uamun inrigan dodechaid cvpatraic. 7 atbert fnss. 
Aduine fireoin 7 aduine cum^/aig. nirosmarba inrig. vair slecht 
faid duitt 7 dobdVa doriar fen duit. Tanic inrig 7 doratsom areir 
dops/r^obeolu 7 nitharut ocJnffiu. 7 atbert fripatrau: dul inadhiaid 
cot^mraig cotartad ariar do hi fiadazj e fer neri. Nihedsin Ira 



1 Ms. rosecnaid. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 23 



it had been kindled first at Tara at the solemnity. And the wizards 
said " unless that fire be quenched before this night, he whose fire 
it is shall have the kingdom of Ireland for ever." 

Tune dixit rex " it shall not be so, but we will go to him and 
kill him." The king arises with his host to seek Patrick and kill 
him ; but they did not arrive before the end of night. When 
the king drew nigh his wizards said to him " go not thou to him," 
said they, " that it may not be a token of honour to him. But let 
him come to thee and let none rise up before him." Thus was it 
done. When Patrick saw the horses and the chariots, he then 
sang this verse : " Hi in curribus et hi in egm s, nos autcm in nomine 
dominiDei nostri magni" But, when Patrick came in to the assem 
bly, only the son of Deg rose up before him, that is, Bishop Ere, 
who is (venerated) at Slane. 

Then came one of the wizards, to wit, Lochru, fiercely and 
angrily against Patrick, and reviled the Christian faith. Tune 
sanctus Patricius dixit " O my Lord, it is Thou that canst do all 
things : in Thy power they are : it is Thou that sentest us hither. 
Let this impious one, who is blaspheming Thy name, be destroyed 
in the presence of all." 

Swifter than speech, at Patrick s word, demons raised the 
wizard into the air, and they let him go (down) against the earth, 
and his head struck against a stone, and dust and ashes were made 
of him in the presence of all, and trembling and intolerable dread 
seized the hosts that were there. 

Loegaire was enraged with Patrick, and went to kill him. 
When Patrick perceived the attack of the heathen upon him, he 
then said, with a mighty voice, "Exsurgat Deus et dissipentur 
inimici ejus." Came a great earthquake and thunder there, and a 
wind, and scattered the chariots and the horses afar on every 
side, so that they came even to Brig Graide and Sliab Moenuirnn, 1 
and they were all slaughtering each other through Patrick s curse, 
and there were left along with the king but four persons only in 
that place, to wit, himself and his wife and two of his priests. 

When terror seized the queen she went to Patrick and said to 
him, " O righteous one and O mighty one, kill not the king, for he 
shall submit to thee, and give thee thine own will." The king came 
and gave his will to Patrick by word of mouth, but gave it not 
from his heart ; and he told Patrick to go after him to Tara that 
he might give him his will before the men of Ireland. That, 



1 ad montem Moncluirn, Lib. Annach. 4 a 2. 



24 Betha Phatrak, Lelar Brecc, p. 3J\ 

boi inam^/main. acht marbad pafrat c vair foraccaib etarnaide 1 CQC/I 
belaig forachind ota sin cotemraig. 

Dochuaid patraic iarsin ochtm mor la gilla .i. bindn seeh inuli 
etarnaide. 1 hirricht ocht noige nalltai. 7 enloeg alkiA/inandiaid. OCTIS 
en find fbragualaind .i. binen sin 7 polire pa/raic foramuin. cotrde- 
chaid z iarsin doirrsib foriattaib isintemraig. collar inrigthaigi. 
isandsin boi inrig ocfledugw^ corigraid eretm imi ar insollamainse 
.i. vair ba hi sin feis temra. 

Ni erracht nech ria patratc itemraig acht fili inrig .1. diibthach 
mac hut lugair. 7 rochreit 7 robaist. 7 dosbeir pa/raic b^wnach- 
tudo. 

Gairmth^r insin pafraic docum leptha inrig. corosthoimlcd 
biad. nirohobb immurro patraic innisin. Dorat \ra indrdid lucat- 
mael banni doneim inerdig patraic. 7 dosrat illaim patraic. roben- 
naig immurro patraic indrdig 7 rosimpoi inlestar. 7 atrochair 
ass indneim. 7 nitorch0/r abecc donlfnd. 7 attib ^pa/rate inlind 
i&rum. 

ISandsin atb^rt inrig fhagilla .i. fr/crundmasl. eirg immach for 
clochan natemrach 7 notleic fein fair. 7 coimlet toes cww[asc]tha 
fuil imotchend. 7 abrat istutim dorochar forsnaclochaib rw/erbaltais. 
7 atb&lt;/rsa fn sinclerech techt dot toduscad. 7 ciatbttrasom fntsa ergi 
naherig. Dordnad amlaid. Otwwnairc ira patraic incorp. rofol lsig 
dia do corobrec tucc^ imme. con[id]airesin atb&lt;?rtsom. 



A mo chrundinasl. A mo gillmael. A mo gerat. 
gerothiacht ni. cen corosiacht. nirotera^/ 
gedorochar. cencotorcrwr forsnaclocha comul cricha 
gerotsiacht ni cencotiacht. nirotichthar. 



ISderb din. nochorhiccad labrethir pa/raic crundmsel 7 nier- 
achl itir osin illc, 

Dochotar iarsin nasloig asintemraig immach. isandsin atb*rt 
indruid Denumm comferta cofessamar cia uaind bus calma. 



Ms. eUiraaige. 2 Dot over first d. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 25 

however, was not what he had in his mind, but to kill Patrick, 
for he left ambushes before him on every road from that to 
Tara. 

Thereafter went Patrick (and his train of) eight, together with 
a gillie Bene*n, past all the ambushes, in the shape of eight 
deer and behind them one fawn with a white bird on its shoulder, 
that is, Benen with Patrick s book-satchel on his back ; and there 
after he went into Tara, the doors being shut, to the middle of 
the palace. The king was then feasting with the kings of Ireland 
around him at this festival, for that was the Feast of Tara. 

No one rose up before Patrick at Tara except the king s poet, 
Dubthach Macculugair, and he believed and was baptized, and 
Patrick gave him a blessing. 

Patrick is then called to the king s couch that he might eat 
food, and Patrick refused not that. The wizard Lucatmael put 
a drop of poison into Patrick s cruse, and gave it into Patrick s 
hand : but Patrick blessed the cruse and inverted the vessel, and 
the poison fell thereout, and not even a little of the ale fell. And 
Patrick afterwards drank the ale. 

Then said the king to his gillie Crunnmael, " Go out on the 
causeway of Tara, and lay thee down thereon and let them rub 
dough mixed with blood about thy head, and let them say that 
thou fellest 1 upon the stones and that thou diedst, and I will tell 
the cleric to come to bring thee to life, and though he tell thee to 
rise, arise not." Thus was it done. When Patrick saw the body, 
God made manifest to him that guile was practised on him, where 
fore he said 

O my Crunnmael, O my bald youth, O my hero, 
Though thou attainedst one thing, though thou hast not 

attained, thou hast not arisen, 
Though thou hast fallen, though thou hast not fallen 

upon the stones a final deed, 
Thou thou attainedst one thing, though thou hast not 

attained, thou art not healed. 

It is certain that Crunnmael was not healed by Patrick s word", 
and from that time forth he arose not. 

Thereafter the hosts fared forth out of Tara. Then said the 
wizards, " Let us work miracles together that we may know which 
of us is the stronger." " So be it done," said Patrick. Then 

1 lit. that it is a fall thou fellest/ 



2,6 Bet/ia Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 27* 27 b . 

Dentar amlaid olpa/raic. isandsin dorat indrui [p. 27 b ] snechta 
darsinmag corocht formna fer. dixit pa/ricius fris Dichuir fodechta. 
si potes. dixit magus. Nichumcaim cusintrath ce/ na imbarach. Dar- 
mode broth .i. darmodia mbrtha olpa/raic isinulcc atta documtf^- 
/u 7 nifil iitr amaith. Senais pa/raic inmag. coroleag insnechta 
foc^^/oir. 

Dorogart indrai demnu cotuc dorchai sholam^/aige darsin 
mag. corosgab cn th 7 uamun each, dixit pa/rictus. Beir ass indor- 
chatu. si potes. Albert indraf nichumcaim cw^intrath c//na imba 
rach. Senais pa/raic inmag. 7 tiagat ass nadorchatu foc/^^7oir 
corolass ingr/an ataiblebech (?). Rosgniset inuli batar and atlugud 
dodia 7 pa/raic. 

Tune dixit rex. curid bar libra inusce. 7 cibe uaib isalibair 
elait dogenumne adrad do. isamerlumsa do sin o\patraic. Atb^rt 
indrai. dia usce adras infersa. 7 niragsa imoenfuigell fris. 8 Rath 
nabaits/ sin roairigsium oc pa/raic. 

Albert in rig. curid bar libra itenid. isamerlumsa do sin ol 
patratc. Nidingen amlaid olindrai. vair dia tened adras infersa 
cecM-abliadain .i. rath inspir/a noib rorathaig oc pa/rate indsin. 
conid andsin fh th aroli comarli ann .i. tech dodenum isinvairsin- 
aleth lir. 7 aroli crin. 7 indrai dochur isin[leth]iir 7 dtach pa/raic 
imme. gilla pa/raic .i. binen dothabairt isinleth crin 7 tonach indrvad 
imme. 



ISandsin tancatar copa/raic teora m^ccoemu bater aneteriaj 
ocloegaire. Ciit fri pa/raic. roiarfaigi pa/raic cid sin am^cu. fir 
fkMa areat dobriss^ hiprimcat^raig na ngoedel indiu. Cait on 
olpatraic. Intech gnith^r dondraf 7 dotgillasu \szmlaid gnfth^r .i. 
leth de lir. 7 leth crin .i. inleth ilr dondrai. 7 incrin dotgillasa. 



Tuc pa/raic amer forgruad ndeis ce^ meic dib. 7 tuc der tar- 
graid deis ce^ meic forad^naind clii. tuc aanail fothib condemn 
ieor* gemma dib. Slucid olpa/raic nagemma. Slucfemit areat 



1 Ms. roiarfaid. 

habet 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 27 



the wizard brought snow over the plain till it reached men s 
shoulders. Dixit Patricins to him, " Put it away now if thou canst." 
Dixit magus, " I cannot till the same time to-morrow." " By my 
debroth" (that is, " by my God of judgment,") saith Patrick, " it is 
in evil thy power lieth, and nowise in good." Patrick blessed 
the plain, and the snow melted at once. 

The wizard invoked demons, and over the plain he brought 
darkness 1 that could be felt, and trembling and terror seized every 
one. Dixit Patricius, " Take away the darkness si potes." The 
wizard replied, " I cannot till the same time to-morrow." Patrick 
blessed the plain and the darknesses at once depart, and the sun 
shone forth ..... All who were there gave thanks to God and 
to Patrick. 

Tune dixit rex, " Put your books into water, and him of you 
whose books escape we will adore." " I am ready for that," saith 
Patrick. Said the wizard, " a god of water this man adores, and 
I will not submit to the ordeal of water." That was the grace of 
Baptism which he had perceived with Patrick. 

Said the king, " Put your books into fire." " I am ready for 
that," saith Patrick. " I will not do thus," saith the wizard, " for 
this man adores a god of fire every two years," that is, it was the 
grace of the Holy Ghost he perceived with Patrick. Then 
another counsel was taken, that is, to build a house in that hour 
the half thereof fresh and the other withered, and to put the wizard 
into the fresh half with Patrick s raiment about him, (and) to place 
Patrick s gillie, Bendn, into the withered half, with the wizard s 
tunic about him. 

Then came to Patrick three striplings, who were kept in host- 
ageship with Loegaire. They weep unto Patrick. Patrick asked, 
" What is that, my sons ?" " In the chief city of the Gael a 
prince s truth," say they, " hath to-day been broken." " Where is 
this ?" saith Patrick. " The house which is abuilding for the wizard 
and thy gillie, in this wise is it abuilding : half thereof fresh and 
half withered ; the fresh half for the wizard and the withered for 
thy gillie." 

Patrick put his finger on the right cheek of each of those boys, 
and on his left palm he put a tear (which had trickled) over the 
right cheek of each boy ; and he breathed on the tears, and made 
thereof three gems. " Swallow," saith Patrick, "the gems." "We 
will swallow (them)," say they. "Good, now," saith Patrick: 



1 Tenebrae . . . tarn densae, ut palpari queant. E.iW. x, 21 



28 Eetha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 27 b . 

Maith tra o\patraic genfedit teora, gemma uaisle oirmitnecha vaib .1. 
colomb cille 7 comgall bennchm r 7 finden maige bile. 

Doronad tra ama/ atb^rtsat narcuzccoim 7 twad teni isin tech. 
7 loiscth^r inleth ur 7 indrdi ind. 7 niroloisced etach patratc boi 
imme. Niroloiso?*/ tra inleth crin nach ingilla. 7 roloisotf tonach 
indruad boi immi. 

Oclaichtlw inrig domarbad indruad. 7 tri&\\aid marbd^ patraic. 
Tanic din ferg d6 fnsinpopw/ n^craibdech ftmepil sochaide dib. xii. 
mt lh a. 

Rogab uaman ia.rum \oegaire coroslecht do patraic 7 rocreit 
dodia obeolu nama. 7 ni ocride glan. Cretit inuli archena ocus 
robaitsit. 

Atb^rt pa/rate fri \oegaire vair rocretisiu dodia doberihar fot 
saegail duit hirrigi. illog immurro tanumla anallana. 7 vair naro- 
gabais inmbathis odiithra^/. ciarocretis obeolu. rotbia iffi?rnd. 7 
nisbia rigi no airechw^ otchiniud cobr^th. 



Roguid tra inrigan intii patraic naromallach^ ingein boi ina- 
broind .i. lugaid mac \oegairi. Atbfrt patraic nimaill^w^ cotii 
frmm. Rogab immurro \ugaid ft&ith erenn. 7 tanic iarsin cohachad 
fhorcha 7 isandsin atb^rt nach hisiut cell inclerig atrubairt na&lt;r/^ 
biad rig no rigdamna diarsilne cobrtith. Deniurad. tarlaiced forcha 
tened foc/fo7oir inachends; corwj-marb wwiddesin ata &chad forcha 
imiib cremthainde. 

Teit patraic insin cohaenach taillten 1 cormzcu neill. Rocreit 
maine do 7 robaist i&rum. Tanic tra mzzgaid coirpr^ mac neill 
comd he ainm tucc patraic fairsium. mimics dei. 7 atb^rt patraic 
isdoclannaib abrathar fognifitis achlandsww cobrath. 7 nigenfitis 
rig no escmp no ecnaide vad. 7 ropad becc aferond. 7 ropad essfth 
amlatd. 

Rocretistar tra cona\\ (.i. cremtan) m0c neill. 7 robaits^ 7 tuc 
aninad arobi do patraic. 7 rocwwdaiged eclas and dianainm dom- 
nach patraic 7 tuc bermachfam do. 7 rothoraind raith inairthir 



uenit ad Taltenam ubi fit agon [dywy] regale Lib. Armach. 10. a. 2. 



On Ike Life of St. Patrick. 29 

" three noble venerable gems shall be born of you, that is, Colomb 
Cille, and Congall of Bennchor, x and Finden of Magbile. * 

It was done as the striplings had said ; and fire was put into 
the house, and the fresh half is burnt with the wizard therein, and 
Patrick s raiment which was about him was not burnt. But the 
withered half was not burnt, nor the gillie, but the wizard s tunic 
which was about him was burnt. 

The king grows terrible (?) at the killing of the wizard, and he 
proceeds to kill Patrick. But God s anger came against the impi 
ous folk, so that a multitude of them (twelve thousand) perished. 

Terror then seized Loegaire, and he knelt to Patrick, and 
believed in God with (his) lips only, and not with a pure heart. 
All the rest, moreover, believe and were baptized. 

Patrick said to Loegaire, " Since thou hast believed in God, 
length of life shall be given to thee in the kingdom, but in guerdon 
of thy disobedience aforetime, and because thou hast not received 
the baptism with desire, though thou believedst with thy lips, 
Hell shalt thou have, and from thy race till Doom there shall be 
neither sovranty nor chieftainship." 

But the queen besought Patrick not to curse the child that 
was in her womb, namely, Lugaid, son of Loegaire. Patrick said : 
" I will not curse him till he opposes me." Now Lugaid took the 
realm of Ireland ; and thereafter he came to Achad farcha, and 
there he said " is not that the church of the cleric who said there 
would never be king nor crownprince of our seed ?" Swifter than 
speech a bolt of fire was hurled against him and killed him. 
Wherefore thence is called Achad farcha in Ui Cremthainne. 3 

Patrick then goes to the Assembly of Telltown, to the sons of 
Niall. Maine believed in him, and he was afterwards baptized. 
But Coirpre, son of Niall, opposed him, and the name which 
Patrick gave him was Inimicus Dei, and Patrick said that his 
children would serve his brother s children for ever; and that 
neither kings nor bishops nor wise men should spring from him, 
and that his land would be small, and the issue was so. 

But Conall (i. e. Cremthann), son of Niall, believed, and was 
baptized, and gave the place where he was to Patrick, and a 
church was built there which is named Domnach Patraic, and 
Patrick gave him a blessing, and measured out a rampart in 

1 Bangor in Ulster. 2 Movilla in the county Down. 

3 In the parish of Enniskeen, the most northern part of Meath diocese. 
See Mr. Hennessy s note to his translation of the Tripartite Life, p. 391. 



30 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, pp. 2; b 28*. 



doruis nacille. 7 rotharrngir congenfitis rig immda vad foremnn. ocus 
ordnige laech 7 clerech cumor. conid dasil c\ann colmam 7 sil aeda 
slaine. 7 rob0mach&lt;z/ aenach taillten. cona. biad marb fair cobnzth. 
7 iw/abiad acht aenmarb hirraith airrth/r. 7 foraccaib aimmaltoir 
hindomnach pafraic 7 luid pa/raic assin hi cn ch h## m//th immen- 
doit tire. 7 nitaraill inard macha [p. 28 a] donchursin. 7 foracaib 
sruthi noeba diamwwtir itig thalan. 



ISandsin tallsat tr/ar doeb mid m^wdoit ti re. indara bocc nobid 
octabairt use/ do ^atraic. 7 tancator dialuga inethiuch. Beccis 
asambronnaib atmir. Modebroth ol pa/raic nidichlend inbocc fen 
baile hita. 

Luid \2ccum cofiru breg. 7 pn tchwjtar bMhir nde doib cumor. 
7 robaist 7 rob&lt;?#nach. 

Taraill leiss ath cliath. 7 fuair failte moir and. 7 atb^rt \&gt;atraic 
nosbiad ordan 7 oirechwj- isini[n]ud sin feib comallfither sin beos. 

Rola pafraic cuairt laigen. 7 prz tchaid br/thir fide doib. ocus 
robaitsz . 7 rosb^wnach 7 rocreitset mc dunlaing tra don chdimdid 
7 do pa/ra/ &lt;r cuslogaib mora. 7 doratsat ariar do. conid leo inflai- 

dsin cobrath. 



Drichd barf hua ngarrchon forcind pa/raic 7 ingen \oegain 
meic neill domnai occa. Diultaid in patraic ocraith inbir. armaith 
fn loegaire. Doratsam \m??iurro cillme failte do. 7 romarb aaenboin 
d(5 patraic. 7 dorat aird(ig) do tucad do atig inri-g. Tune dixit 
pa/ricws fnsinmnai fuine. 

A ben talaig dom^ccan 

dotoet torcc mdr do orccan 

isdo aibill fasas breo 

bid beo bid slan domaccan. 

INarbor 

asdech do lossa[ib] talman 

ismarcan mac cilline 

isdech bias do hib garrchon. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 31 

front of the door of the church, and foretold that many kings 
over Ireland would spring from him, and many noble laymen 
and clerics. And of his seed are the Clann-Colmain, and the seed 
of Aed Slaine. And Patrick blessed the Assembly of Telltown, so 
that no one should ever be killed thereat, and that only one should 
be killed at Rath Airthir, 1 and he left his altar-stone at Domnach 
Patraic. And Patrick went from thence into the territory of 
Ui Meith in Mendait Tire, and he tarried not in Armagh at that 
season, and he left holy elders of his people at Tech-talain. 

Then three of the Ui Meith Mendait Tire stole (and ate) one 
of the two goats that used to carry water for Patrick, and came 
to swear a lie. It bleated from the bellies of the three. " My 
debroth," said Patrick, " the goat himself hides not the stead where 
in he is." 

He afterwards went to the men of Bregia and mightily 
preached the word of God unto them, and baptized and blessed 
them. 

He visited the Ford of Hurdles (Dublin), and found great 
welcome there, and Patrick said that there would be rank and 
primacy in that place, even as shall be still fulfilled. 

Patrick went a round of the Leinstermen, and preached the 
word of God to them, and baptized and blessed them ; and the 
sons of Dunlaing with mighty hosts believed in the Lord and in 
Patrick, and they gave him his will, wherefore they have the king 
ship thence for ever. 

Drichu was king of Ui Garrchon before Patrick, and a 
daughter of Loeguire, son of Niall, was his wife. They rejected 
Patrick at Rath Inbir 2 for Loeguire s sake, but Cillme welcomed 
him and killed his only cow for Patrick and gave him a cup 
which had been bestowed upon him in the king s house. Then. 
Patrick said to the cooking woman 

" O woman, cherish thy child ! 
A great boar cometh of a pigling. 
From a spark groweth a flame. 
Thy child shall be alive, shall be safe. 
The corn 

That is best of earth s plants 
Is Marcan, son of Cillme : 
He will be the best of the Ui Garrchon." 

1 i. e., The Eastern fort, anglicised Oristown, Four Masters, A. D. 784. 

2 At Bray, about 10 miles south of Dublin. 



Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 28* 



Luid iarz pafratc inosraigib 7 fothaigis cella 7 ?gbala intib. 
7 dixit nobetis ordnige Isech 7 clerech dfb. 7 nibiad furail nacA 
cd[i]cid form cein nobetis dore ir pafrat c. 

Celebrais pa/rate izrum do osraigib imbelach gabrdn. 7 forac- 
caib martin sruthi occu 7 drem diamwwtir dii hita martharthech 
indi u amuig raigne. 

Luid pafrat c izrum brbelach ngabran icn ch ma/wan. 7 pn tcais 
donatuathaib 7 donacellaib corocretset 7 robaitsz 7 rosb^nach. 
(7fj- foraccaib oes ngrid occu ocforcetul 7 occrabud. 

Orosiacht mag femin docuirith^r do sengw^ mac natfr^z ch .i. 
ri mw/wan. ferais sengw^ failte moir fh ss. 7 nosb^r leis diathig 
c^wice caissel. Pn tcais patraic dd. Teit erlund nabachla tnana- 
chois corocrechtnaz^ comor hi. Asb^rt pafratc cid romba centim- 
diten. Andarlium araen^w^ rope cdir nacretmi. Albert pafratc 
nitelcfider fuil isininudsa ondiu cobrath. 7 nfgonfaith^r acht oen 
ri doneoch gobus tinud. 



Baistittur sengw^ cuslogu mora immalle fr/ ss. b^nachais 
patrat c sengw-y forleicc cat/^raigi foranordnigtea narig iccaissel. 



B^nachais pafratc doeogana^/ 7 teitt hinurmwwain. pn tchais 
pafratc doib 7 nosbaist. 7 foraccaib bfna&lt;:^tain 7 sobarthain occu. 
Timcellaid mwwain uli 7 pn tcruzzi doib. 7 ronbaist 7 rosb^wnach. 
&lt;?&lt;TJ facbuid cella 7 clerchiu occu. Celebrais pafratc 7 dosb^ r 
b^nachtu dichra doib ut dixit. 

JSennacfif de formw^ain. feraib rmzcaib mnaib 
bennackf forintal/wz dobeir tarad daib. 
~Bennacht forced nindbas gignes forambrugaib 1 
cennach fore cobair. bennachf de formwain. 
~Bennachf fora mbenda. foralecca lomma 
b&lt;?nacht foranglenda. benna^/ forandromma. 



1 Ms. brigaib. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 33 

Patrick afterwards went into Ossory and founded churches 
and church-buildings there, and said that there would be noble 
laymen and clerics of the men of Ossory, and that no province 
would prevail against them so long as they should obey Patrick. 

Patrick afterwards bade farewell to the men of Ossory at 
Belach Gabrain, 1 and he left with them Martin, an elder, and 
a party of his people where Martharthech is at this day in Mag 
Raigne. 8 

Patrick passed afterwards by Belach Gabrain into the pro 
vince of Munster, and preached to the territories and to the 
churches, so that they believed and were baptized, and he blessed 
them. And with them he left priests instructing (them) and prac 
tising piety. When he reached Mag Femin, 3 he was received by 
Oengus, son of Natfraech, King of Munster. Oengus made him 
great welcome, and brought him to his house to Cashel. Patrick 
preached to him. The hinder end of the crozier went through his 
foot, and wounded it greatly. Patrick said, " Why didst thou 
not protect thyself?" " Methought," saith Oengus, "that it was a 
rite of the religion." Said Patrick, " Blood shall not be shed in 
this place from to-day till Doom, and of all those that shall suc 
ceed thee but one king shall be slain." 

Oengus was baptized with great hosts along with him. Patrick 
blessed Oengus upon Lia Cathraige (Cathraige s stone), whereon 
the kings were appointed to office at Cashel. 

Patrick bade farewell to the Eoganacht and went into Ormond. 
Patrick preached to them and baptized them, and left with them 
blessing and prosperity. He goes the rounds of all the Munster- 
men, and preached to them and baptized them and blessed them, 
and leaves churches and clerics with them. Patrick bade them 
farewell and gave them a fervent blessing, ut dixit 

God s blessing on Munster, men, children, women. 

Blessing on the land which gives them fruit, 

Blessing on each wealth which is brought forth on their 

marches 

Without any need (?) of help. God s blessing on Munster. 
Blessing on their peaks, on their bare flagstones, 
Blessing on their glens, blessing on their ridges, 



1 Gowran Pass in the County of Kilkenny. 

2 A plain in the barony of Kells, County Kilkenny. 

3 A plain in Tipperary. 



34 Bet ha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 28 a 28 b . 



gainem lir folongaib ropat lin atellaig. 
ifanaib irredib. islebtib imbendaib. b.d. 

Tanic patratc iarsin do ard macha labr/Mir inangil. 7 
coraith dari .i. fer soimm oirmitnech boi inoirth^raib .i. dare mac 
fmdcrK&/a mei c eogam meic niallain. dorats#/# inad ardeclazrc do 
patraic bale hita in ferta indiu. 

Otharnic inre cles dochumtach. 7 rofhas afe"r cumor. rucc gilla 
dare aech maith isinrecles dochum indfeoir diguind. Rothoccraid 
sin cumor do patraic 7 tanic ingilla iarnabarach isinmatain. 7 fuair 
aech marb isinrecles. Dochuaid ira ingilla ass cutoirsech. 7 
roindis doddre aech domarb^ don chlerech. dixit dare, inclerech 
fen do marbad ind. Atbail dare foc^i/oir lasinmbre/^irsin. dixit setig 
dare, ise fochund inbaissea intancn de dorigne fh sin clerech. tiagar 
coluath 7 tabar ariar do. Docotar natechta copatrax 7 atchotar 
do inni forcoemnacair ind. senais pa/rate usce. 7 dosbeir darsin ech 
7 darsinfer. 7 atregut diblinib abas. 



dixit dare fri di is [p. 28. b ] diamwwtir. berid mo chori humai don 
clerech. Atb^rt pafraic iartorar^/u inchori dd. graticum .i. deo 
gratias ago. larfaigis dare diathimthmb cid atb^rt inclerech. gra- 
tiam olnatimthmg. ismaith inluach cori umai sin ol dare, ercid ocus 
tabraid vad forciila. Dob^rar incori forcula o patnzzi:. gratiam ol- 
patraic. larfaigis dare donatimthmb. cid atrubat rt pafraic icathabairt 
vad. ingratiam ce?na olsiat. isnf maith acasww inbriaM^r sin oldare. 
ingratiam ocabm M vad. ingratiam ocathabairt do. 



Teit dare f^n lasincori. 7 dorat are*r dopatrai c conid andsin 
tucc d(5 aninud hita ard macha indiu. Ard sailech ira aainm cdsin. 
7 t&t dare iarw/ra timchell inferaind. 

isinoidche iarsin atrc&gt;nairc patratc hifhfs .i. uictor aingel dp- 
thidecht chuice. cosruthi erenn maroen ris. curastoraind incat^raig 
inafiadwawe 7 inad intempuil 7 nacuicni 7 intige aiged. 7 tete 
dessel narathai 7 pa/raze inadiaid &lt;wzabachaill isu nalaim. 7 smthi 
eienn occlassc^/ul imbe. 



Rosciimtaig izrum pafraic incat^raig fomndus sin am^7 tarfas 
do. 7 atb&lt;?rt intaingeal ris. bid imda rath de" isininudsa. 7 force^oen 



On ike Life of St. Patrick. 35 



Sand of sea under ships be their hearths number, 
On slopes, on plains, on mountains, on peaks ! 

Thereafter Patrick came to Armagh at the angel s word, and 
he arrived at Rath Daire, the fort of Daire, a wealthy, venerable 
man, who was in Oriors, to wit, Daire, son of Findchad, son of 
Eogan, son of Niallan. He gave a site for a high church to 
Patrick in the stead where the Ferta is to-day. When the build 
ing of the close was finished, and its grass grew greatly, Daire s 
gillie brought his good horse into the close to the grassplot (?) 
This vexed Patrick greatly, and the gillie came on the morrow in 
the morning, and found his horse dead in the close. The gillie 
went away sorrowfully, and told Daire that his horse was killed by 
the cleric. Daire ordered the cleric himself to be killed for it. 
Daire died anon at that word. Said Daire s wife, " The cause of 
this death is the wrong which he wrought against the cleric. Go 
quickly and give him his will." The messengers went to Patrick, 
and they told him what had been done. Patrick sained water and 
puts it over the horse and over the man, and both arise from death. 

Said Daire to twain of his people, " Take my caldron of copper 
to the cleric." Patrick said when the caldron had come to him, 
" Gratzacham," that is, Deogratias ago. Daire asked of his servants 
what the cleric had said. " Gratzacham," say the servants. " That 
is a good price for a copper caldron !" saith Daire, " go ye and 
bring it back from him." The caldron is brought back from 
Patrick. " Gratzacham," saith Patrick. Daire asked of the servants 
what Patrick said at the taking away of the caldron from him. 
" The same gratzacham" say they. " The word is a good one with 
him," saith Daire, " the gratzacham on taking it from him and the 
gratzacham in giving it to him." 

Daire himself went with his caldron, and gave Patrick his 
will, bestowing on him the stead wherein Armagh is at this day 
(now Ard Sailech had been its name till then), and Daire afterwards 
went round the land. 

On the night thereafter Patrick beheld in a vision Victor, an 
angel, coming to him with Ireland s elders along with him, and 
they marked out the city in his presence, and the place of the 
temple and of the kitchen and of the guest-house, and he went 
right-hand-wise round the rampart, and Patrick behind him with 
his bachall Isu Jesu s crozier in his hand, and Ireland s elders 
a-chanting around him. 

Patrick afterwards built the city in the same wise as it 
had appeared to him. And the angel said to him : " Abundant 



36 Betha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 28 b . 



dogena 1 maith and. Atb^rt intaingel iri patraic hiccfa dia erutsa 
.xii. cedfcasatluwhid sund. 7 morfessiur ce^adardain. cein maras 
ires forpthi nahddine. 

ISlia tuirem 7 aisne s ce^ahd^rna patraic dofertaib 7 domir- 
bulib imon macha macuairt. 

Tanic patraic iarsin doroim intresfecht cotucc tassi poll ocus 
petazr. 7 zepain 7 laurint 7 martirech immda archena. 7 minda ocus 
libra 7 anart cofuil cm/ fair. 7 rocumtaigtea ocpatraic ifoss .i. 
iscn n poil 7 petair. 

Luid pa/razi: iarsin indithrub .i. hicruachan oigle. foindsamail 
moysi 7 helii. 7 crw/. coroain xl. lathi 7 xl. aidche isinluccsin. ocus 
iiii. clocha imbe 7 cloich foi. ama/roain moysi isleib sina octidnocul 
do inrechta. vair roptar cosmaile h&lt;5 ilmodaib .i. moysi 7 patraz c. 
c. xx. mblia&lt;&7* ana3s diblinib. Toisech popwz / cechtar de. roain- 
sct .xl. naidche islebtib. At indreba. 7 anadnocuil diblinib. 



Orosiacht ira comfocus [sollamain] nacasc. rolinfad] insliab 
fair dodemnaib indelbaib en dub. Canaid patraic psalmu escaine 
forru. 7 ciid. 7 benaid achlocc corremuid bernd ind. ut dixit 
patricius. 

Hitagar dul icruaich cuirr draing cencrabuid armochind 
romgab ecla re s// sell. .x. c. cend ictaccra frimm. 



Techit nademnu fac^e/oir ead radaircc fi?rsinfairgi. 7 nosbaidet 
fen isininudsin. 7 nitaraill demun tir nerenn osin cocend .uii. lathi. 
7 uii. mis 7 uii. mbli adan. 

Tanic iamm slog mor doainglib irrer^tu en ngel. corchansat 
ceol nuasal donchomdid dochomdidnad patraic. Atb^rat fairend 
comad incomlinsin nob^radsom lais docum nime. 

ISandsin atb^rt uictor aingel fn ssium. Erig cotmtir arsol- 
lawain nacasc. dixit patricius. Ni rag orumcraidet corumdi[g]tider. 

1 Ms. dodcna. 2 Jot over n. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 37 

will God s grace be in this place and upon every one who will do 
good therein." The angel said to Patrick, " God will heal for thee 
here twelve persons every Saturday and seven every Thursday, so 
long as the perfect faith of the people abideth." 

Overmuch it is to recount and declare all the wonders and 
miracles which Patrick wrought round about Armagh. 

Thereafter Patrick went to Rome for the third time, and he 
brought relics of Paul and Peter and Stephen and Lawrence and 
many martyrs besides, and reliquaries and books and a sheet with 
Christ s blood thereon, and Patrick set up here in Ireland the 
shrine of Paul and Peter. 

Thereafter Patrick gat him into the wilderness, that is, to Crua- 
chan Oigle, 1 after the manner of Moses and Elias and Christ, and 
for forty days and forty nights he fasted in that place, having four 
stones about him and a stone under him, even as Moses fasted on 
Mount Sinai when the Law was delivered unto him. For they, 
Moses and Patrick, were alike in many ways. One hundred and 
twenty years was the age of them both. Each was a leader of 
people: forty nights on mountains they fasted, and the burial- 
places of both are uncertain. 

Now when [the solemn festival of] Easter was at hand, the 
mountain was filled against him with devils in the shapes of 
black birds. Patrick sings psalms of cursing against them, and 
he weeps and strikes his bell, until a gap broke in it, ut dixti 
Patridus 

I fear to go to the round (?) Rick : bands without piety (are) 

against me, 
Fear has seized me for a time, ten hundred heads (are) 

contending with me. 

The devils flee at once upon the sea, as far as eye can reach, 
and drown themselves in that place, and no devil visited the land 
of Ireland from that time to the end of seven days and seven 
months and seven years. 

Then there came a great host of angels in the shapes of 
white birds, and they sang noble music to the Lord to comfort 
Patrick. Some say that it is an equal number he will take with 
him to heaven. 

Then the angel Victor said to him, " Go to thy people for the 
solemn festival of Easter." Patrick said, " Since I was tormented, 



Erne s Rick, now Croagh Patrick, a mountain in Mayo. 



38 Eetha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, pp. 28 b 



7 cotartar dam .uii. nidche onchomdid .i. cipe doferaib erenn dogne 
aithrigi rembas. cid fri re envaire. narohiatta iffernd fair imbrath 
ocus &lt;wzaroaittrebat echtrmnd inindsi. 7 coti muir tarsi .uii. mbliadna 
riambrath. 7 corasaerursa morfessiur ce^adardain. 7 xii. ce^a 
sathuzzhid arphianuib iffzrnd. 7 cipe gebus mimund hillou aetsechta 
comb nemidach. amal dorarngertsa dosechnall. 7 cotz/&lt;:arsa apian- 
aib iff/hid, illou bratha morfessiur ce^a brodhirne domchass- 
ul doneoch nodonaidlife 7 corup me fen bus bn Mem imbrath 
doferaib erew. Dobertar duit indsin uii arintaingel. vair rotguid- 
ester muntei nime uii erut. l&etmacht forinrig olpatraic. 7 [or 
inmz^tir. 



Benais \&gt;atraic achlocc cocualatar fir erenn iitr biu 7 marbu. 
Bennachais iarsin firu erenn asin cruaich. 7 ordaigid morfessiur 
dia muniir [2Qa] imbethaid icoimet fer nerenn .i. fer icrwachan 
ailge. 7 fer imbeind gulban. 7 fer isliab bethad. 7 fer isliab chua 
ocus inlanomain icluain hiraird. 7 domangort slebi slangai. 1 



Dotoet doncruaich iarsin 7 celebrais inchaisc ocachad fobair. 

Luid pafraic 7 brigit imaille fhss do ess ruaid 7 adcobair 
[eclais] and 7 congbail du hita disiurt patraic indfu. Diultais 
carpr^ mac neill friss 7 rofaid dis diamwwtir dogabail alama .i. 
carbacc 7 cuangzw ananmunna. Nimaith andogni olpatraic. dia- 
leicthea damsa congbail sund. robad tamzwe roma letha watibir 
trethi. mocatha/rsi c&lt;?aessruaid tr^nalar. 7 robad doclannasu beti s 
comorbada innte. Rohop immorro cairprc sin. F^rsith &lt;eda tra 
rob^nach pafraic conall mac n&ll. isandsin dofutitfs lama pa/rate 



1 the g is dotted. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 39 



I will not go till I am satisfied, and until seven things are given to 
me by the Lord, namely, that at Doomsday hell be not shut upon 
whichsoever of the men of Ireland repenteth before death, were it 
even for the space of a single hour ; that outlanders may not inhabit 
this island; that the sea may come over it seven years before 
Doomsday ; that seven persons every Thursday and twelve every 
Saturday I may free from the pains of hell ; that whoever shall 
sing my hymn on the day of his death may be a dweller in heaven, 
as I promised unto Sechnall ; and that on Doomsday I may bring 
from the pains of hell ... for every hair of my chasuble, seven 
of those that shall visit it ; and that I myself may be judge over 
the men of Ireland on Doomsday. " All this shall be granted to 
thee," said the angel, " for all the family of heaven have prayed 
for thee." " A blessing upon the King [of heaven]," said Patrick, 
"and upon the family [of heaven]." 

Patrick rang his bell, so that all the men of Ireland, both 
living and dead, heard it. Thereafter he blessed the men of Ire 
land from the Rick, and he ordered seven persons of his people 
in his lifetime to guard the men of Ireland, to wit, a man at 
Cruachan Aigle, and a man at Benn Gulbain, 1 and a man in Sliab 
Bethad, 3 and a man in Sliab Cua, 3 and the married pair at Cluain 
Iraird 4 and Domangort of Sliab Slangai. 5 

He went from the Rick after this, and celebrated the Easter 
at Achad Fobair. 6 

Patrick and Brigit along with him went to Essruaid, 7 and he 
was minded to erect a church and a manse there at a place wherein 
to-day is Disert Patraic. Cairbre, son of Niall, rejected him, and 
he sent two of his people to seize his hand, Carbaic and Cuangus 
(were) their names. " What thou hast done is not good," said 
Patrick ; " hadst thou permitted me to settle here, my city, with 
its [river of] Essruaid through the middle thereof, would have 
been a second Rome of Latium with its Tiber flowing through 
it, and thy descendants would have been (my) successors there 
in." But Coirpre refused that. Now Patrick blessed Conall, son 



now Binbulbin, a hill in the County of Sligo. 

now Slieve Beagh in Ulster. 

now Slieve Gua, in the County of Waterford. 

Clonard in Meath. 

now Slieve Donard, in the County of Down. 

now Achagower. 

Assaroe, a cataract on the river Erne. 



40 Betha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 29*. 

[forcenn] fergusa. 7 ba ma^/ad hcono.ll innisin. ut dixit patricius. 



Genfid m^cfan] dia fine 
bidsui bidfaid bidfile 
inmain lespaire glan gle 
nadebe rai immarbe. 
arbrigit 

Mtfccan ethni toebgile 
sech isbal isblathugw^/ 
colomb cille can cenon 
nirborom arathugud. 

larsin tra robmnach patrai c conall mac neill. 7 dora[r]ngert 
rigi for ein /m vad. 7 ordnige loech 7 clerech. 7 foraccaib ben- 
nachtu foradainiu 7 forainberu. 7 tanic iarum hitir neogain. conid 
annsin rogell ^atraic 7 sechnall alog fh muiredach mac eogain 
dianairaled foraatha/r cretem dodia. Cialdg armuiredech. Bid 
vait rigi cobrath ar sechnall. Dogen amlaztf armuiredach. Doro- 
nad zmlaid. 7 rocreit eogan dodia 7 dop&lt;z/ra/c. 



Luid ^atraic assin cohailech narig. conw^b^nach 7 foracaib 
aleicc and. 7 dorarnger rigi 7 ordan for ein&gt;z# ahailech. 7 dorat 
gaiscid foreogan con&maccu. ut dixit frm. 

Bendac^/ forsnatuatha dobiur obelach ratha 

robet dochiniud eogain deoraid cola mbrdtha. 

Cein bess macha fothoraib bvaid catha laferaib 

cend sluaig fer fail dia magin saigid daib fbrcech teltaig. 

Sfl eogain maic neill sin 1 abrigit ban 

acht [condernat maith] flaith uadib cobrath. 



ut dixit brigit. 

Armbennacht arndis foreogqn mac 

forcach geinfess vad acht corup vaig [di]arreir. 



read sen ? 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 41 



of Niall, on Sith Aeda. 1 Then Patrick s hands were falling on 
the head of Fergus, and Conall had wonder thereat, ut dixit 
Patridus 

" A man-child shall be born of his family : 

He will be a sage, a prophet, a poet. 

Dear the luminary, pure, bright, 

Who will never utter falsehood. 
Saith Brigit 

Man-child of Ethne, the white-sided, 

He is bright, he is a blossoming (?). 

Colomb Cille, fair without blemish, 

It was not oversoon to perceive him. 

Now after that Patrick blessed Conall, son of Niall, and he 
foretold that sovranty over Ireland (would descend) from him, and 
also noble laics and clerics, and he left a blessing on his people 
and on his rivermouths, and he afterwards came into Tyrone, and 
there Patrick and Sechnall promised a reward to Muiredach, 
son of Eogan, if he would prevail on his father to believe in 
God. " What reward ?" saith Muiredach. " Kingship shall be 
from thee for ever," saith Sechnall. "Thus will I do," said 
Muiredach ; and thus was it done, and Eogan believed in God 
and in Patrick. 

Patrick fared thence to Ailech of the Kings, 2 and he blessed it, 
and left his flagstone there, and foretold that the kingship and 
supremacy of Ireland would be out of Ailech, and he left blessing 
of valour upon Eogan and his sons, saying to them 

" A blessing on the territories I give from Belach Ratha : 
There shall be of Eogan s race pilgrims till Doomsday : 
So long as plain shall be under crops, victory of battle shall 

be with their men : 
The head of the host of the men of Fal (be) to their place : 

power (?) to them over every hearth : 
The race of Eogan, son of Niall, sain, O fair Brigit ! 
Provided they do good, a king [will be] of them for ever." 

Brigit said 

" The blessing of us both upon Eogan, son of Niall, 
Upon every one who shall be bom of him, provided they 
be wholly at our will." 

1 now Mullaghshee, at Ballyshannon. 
* Now Elagh in Inishowen. 



42. Hct ha Phatraic, Lebar Brecc, p. 29* 



Luid pii/raic iarsin hicrich ulad co maginis. cwndindsin dorala 1 
ir duine angbuid nobid ocslat 7 ocmarbad nacuitechtad .i. 
cuill aainm. ut dixit fr/amwwtir. iseseo intailcend. tiagum 
cotard///// amttf fair. dj infurUt7;/faidea adea do. Tucsat \zium 
for diamwwtir fivfvat. am&lt;;/ marb. diatodhwjcad dorvz/Tw/i:. garban 
din ainm infhirsin. ice duin oliat iripiz/rj:/&lt;; infersa diarmw/tir 
ut dixit pn/ridus. 



Bratt garban 

$ft/bias forcolaind marban 

acht atfessar duib inmo 

ise garban bias fd. 

Rolaiset am//;/ter indsin inbratt do agaid garban &lt;w*id aml&lt;;// 
[fjvarutar he marb. Rocretset t/w. nagditi. 7 robaitsit. 7 rotod/^- 
cit garban abas it ,-abr/Mir \kitraic. 

ITlia tra twream 7 aisnes andorigne dia dofhertaib 7 mirbulib 
frnntii noemp&lt;;// &lt;7/i-. vair .uii. libair. Ix. roscr/ bat dib 7 cided on 
nidat uli. 

Rosamlad tra. \*itmic f; v huasalat^rjchaib .i. firoilithrech ce Jus 
ani(7/ abraham. cendais dilgudach am ( 7/ moysi. salmcetlaid molta 
de he ama/ dabid [mac] iese. istud ecnai anu/ solmuin. losti/r 
tog(Z/ (/e fr/ foccra firinde amj/ pol nasp&lt;7/. fer kin dorath 7 dodeol- 
aidcrA/ inspir/a no73 am&lt;2/ coin mac zepideii. leo armrtmaire 7 
calmatwj fr/tabairt corad 7 eccraibdech intsa^gail documm nirse 
7 cretim. 3 nathir arthuailchi 7 tretk7/n fr/Tomtin cocha. hamuis. 
colum cendais ailgen oduthrj^/ cr/ de 7 obr^Air f&lt;?rpthi 7 ognim 
firen. inog s^t^rach donduilenu/); iar crabud 7 umaloit 7 f&lt;?rcetail 
feib innises soch&lt;?/&lt;/e. 



Bahiseo immurro riag^/ achrabuid .i. nogebed inuli salmu 
,, vanimnaib 7 cantacib 7 abcolips. cc. 7 ernaigthi aile cerA- 
lai. Nobait&v/ nop/^ntchad nochelebrad natratha iarnacoras. 
No[p. 2g b ]-hidbrad corp crw/ 7 afuil. Dobcred sigen nacr0chi 
daraagi7/i/ coba Ct?V ontrath coraile. ISinc^Cna fr/thaire na- 
luxichi nochanad cet salm 7 dognid .cc. slechtain. isin[f 5 ]rithaire 



1 The facsimile has doralala, * kg. cretmi ? 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 43 






Thereafter Patrick fared into the province of Ulster to 
inis, 1 and there Patrick met a ruthless man who was spoiling 
and killing the congregation MacCuill was his name, ut dixit to 
his people: " This is the Adzehead, let us go and make an attack 
upon him, to see if perchance his god will help him." They after 
wards brought one of their people upon a bier, as though he were 
dead, to be raised from death by Patrick. Garvdn was the name 
of that man. " Heal for us," they say, " this man of our family." 
Ut dixit Patricius 

Garvan s mantle 

Shall be upon a dead man s body, 

But this, besides, shall be known to you, 

It is Garvan that shall be under it. 

Then his people put the mantle off GarvaVs face and thus they 
found him, dead. So the heathen believed and were baptized. 
and Garvan was raised to life from death by Patrick s word. 

What God wrought of wonders and miracles for the holy 
Patrick are over-many to recount or declare ; for there were sixty 
books and seven written of them, and still they are not all (set 
forth). 

Now Patrick hath been likened to the patriarchs for first. 
(he was) a true pilgrim, like Abraham; meek, forgiving, like 
Moses ; a psalmist of God s praise was he like David son of 

Jesse * a of wisdom, like Solomon ; a chosen vessel 

to proclaim the truth, like apostle Paul; a man full of the 
grace and loving-kindness of the Holy Ghost, like John son of 
Zebedee ; a lion in strength and courage to bring the impious and 
wicked of the world to faith and belief; a serpent in cunning and 
prudence for observing every attack ; a dove, mild and gentle in 
heart s desire and perfect word and righteous deed ; a laborious 
servant to the Creator as to piety, and humility, and instruction 
in every goodness, as many relate. 

Now, this was the rule of his piety, to wit, he used to sing 
all the psalms with their hymns and canticles and apocalypse, 
and other prayers every day. He used to baptize, to preach, and 
to celebrate the hours according to their due order : he used to 
offer Christ s Body and his Blood. He used to make the sign of 
the cross over his face a hundred times from one (canonical) 
hour to another. In the first watch of the night he used to sing 
a hundred psalms and make two hundred genuflexions. In 



Now Lccale in the County Down. 



44 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brccc, p. 29**. 



inusa uar. isintress frtthatre iteoir. incethrumad foniir 
luimm 7 cloch fdchind 7 culchi fliuch imbi. Noordned nocosm&d 
Twcoisrecad nobennzchad nohiccad clamu ocus dallu 7 baccachu 
7 bodra 7 amlabru 7 aes ce&lt;r^ tedma archena. no indarbud demnu 
not6dusc&d marbu. 

Othanic tra czmiadedenchu do pafraic diamboi ocsabull 
himaginis hicr/ ch ulad. tic forawair do ard macha combzd ind 
atbelad. Atchi inmwmi forlassad arachind 7 niloisced inteni 
inmuine. ocus uictor aingel icaacalkzksium ass. ut dixit friss. 

Nidechais doardmacha vair dorarngertais 
do maccu trechim combad accu thesergi. 

tune dixit patricius 

Maid sund bes mesergi ard macha mochell 
nilem comus mo saire isi indaire choitchend. 

dixit patricius 

Ard macha nocharaindsi inmain treb inmain tulach 
diin Cftrtathig manimsi bid fas emain nacurad. 

dixit angelus 

Uair issunna thesergi rotbia ni bus ferr 
eriu uli o ind cofond ardmacha dochell. 

.i. dorath 7 tordan 7 toirechj inard macha olintaingel cidsund 
bess tesergi. 

Rofaid pafrat c aspire/ iarsin 7 rogab comaind 7 sacarbaic 
dolaim tassaig escwz p. iarmbre#A bvada 7 coscair lais dodomun 
ocus demun 7 dualchib. 7 rofaid aspirw/ cwincoimdid diand^rnai 
fognam 7 mfltnidecht isnatalmawtaib. 

Toet sldg mdr do aingliu nime dia[f]restul cosollsi mair. con- 
idiatsin rochometsat incorp isinoidche sin. cocualatar sruthi erenn 
clascetul nanaingel isinoidchesin. Tancater sruthi erenn .xff. 
aidchi cosalmu 7 imannaib. 7 nithesta form intsollsi natA inbolad 
angelacda. acht bdi isintir uli cocend mbli&dne. 

Roas cosnam mor etir airgiallu 7 ulltu imoncorp. contracht 
gabul fairrge 1 etorru. cona.ma.rba each dib acele. Atonaicset 

! 

1 ( f return quoddam quod collum lovis vocatur Lib. Armach. 8. b. a. 



On the Life of St. Patrick. 45 

the second watch (he used to be) in cold water : the third watch in 
contemplation : the fourth watch on the cold clay, with a stone 
under his head and a wet quilt about him. He used to ordain, 
anoint, and consecrate. He used to bless and cure lepers, the blind, 
the lame, the deaf, the dumb, and folk of every disease besides. 
He used to cast out devils ; he used to raise the dead to life. 

Now when Patrick came to the ending days, while he was at 
Saball in Mag-inis in the province of Ulster, he sets out on the 
road to Armagh that he might die therein. He sees the brake 
blazing before him, and the fire was not burning the brake, and 
Victor an angel (was) speaking to him thereout, ut dixit to him 
" Thou shalt not go to Armagh, for thou promisedst 
To Trechem s sons that with them thy resurrection 

would be." 
Then Patrick said 

" If here be my resurrection, Armagh will be my church : 
My freedom is not in my own power, it is the common 

bondage." 
Dixit Patricius : 

Armagh I used to love : a dear household, a dear hill, 
A fortwhich my soul haunteth. Emain of the heroes 

shall be waste. 
Dixit angelus : 

Since thy resurrection is here, thou shalt have what 

is better 

All Ireland from top to bottom, Armagh thy church, 
that is Thy grace, and thy dignity, and thy primacy (will be) in 
Armagh," said the angel, "though thy resurrection will be here." 
Thereafter Patrick sent (forth) his spirit, and he received 
communion and sacrifice from Bishop Tassach s hand, after gain- 
in- victory and triumph over the world and the Devil and 
vices. And he sent his spirit to the Lord, for whom he had . 
service and warfare in earthly things. 

A -reat host of heaven s angels came with a great light to 
attend him, wherefore it was they that waked the body on 
night. And Ireland s elders heard the quiring of the angels 
on that night. Ireland s elders came for twdve nigh s wh 
psalms and hymns, and the light and the angelic odour 
them not, but abode in the whole land to a year s end. 

There grew up a great strife between the men of One] 
the men of Ulster about the body, and an arm of the sea arose 



46 Betha Phatraic, Lelar Brecc, p. 29 b . 

indsin airrthzwr da dam allaid rempu cofhcn eterru 7 incorp and. 
tancatar rempu coardmachai. 7 roptar budig dodia. 



tra patraic conznoir 7 ormitin. cofhertaib 7 mir- 
bull cechalathidib 1 hindun lethglassi. 

Ocus cidmor aanoir coleicc fiado[i]nib. bid mou aanoir indail 
bm/y&a. du imbia ama/ cech pnmasp&lt;?/ ocbr^emn^r^/ forfiru erenn 
diarop^n tchwjter conid andsin tatnigfess am&lt;z/ gmn. inoentaid 
noem 7 noemog indomain. inoentazi/ uasalathrach 7 fatha. inoentatd 
zspol 7 descipw/ isu cm/ mc d^ bii. inoente^ .ix. ngrad nime na 
tarmdechutar. inoentaid doena^/a mete de. isinoen//(/ isuaisle 
andas cerAoen/w. inoen//(/ nanoemtrmoti vaisle oirmit[n]igi. 
athazr 7 mac 7 spirw/ n^(5. 



trocaire nde tmimpide patraic. roissam uli moen/aid sin. 
rosairilk/w. rosaitr&lt;?uam. in saecula saeculorum. Amen. 



Read cechlathidib. 



On Ike Life of St. Patrick. 47 



between them, so that they might not kill each other. They saw 
before them in the east two stags, 1 with a wain between them and 
the body therein. They went forward to Armagh and they 
were thankful to God. 

Patrick was buried, with honour and veneration, with daily 
wonders and miracles, in Dunlethglaisse. 

And though great is his honour still among men, his honour 
will be still greater at the meeting of Doom, where he will be like 
every chief apostle, passing judgment on the men of Ireland unto 
whom he preached. It is there he will shine forth like the sun 
in the union of the saints and holy virgins of the world; in 
union of patriarchs and prophets ; in the union of apostles and 
disciples of Jesus Christ, Son of living God ; in union of nine 
orders of heaven that have not transgressed ; in the union of 
the Manhood of Jesus Christ son of God ; in the union which is 
nobler than every (other) union ; in the union of the holy, noble, 
venerable Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Ghost. 

I implore God s mercy through Patrick s intercession ! May 
we all attain to that union, may we deserve it, may we dwell there 
in saecula saeculorum \ Amen ! 



1 Or perhaps two wild oxen, .ii. boves indomiti, as in Lib. Arm. 8. b. a. 



II. 

BETHA BRIGTE. 



ON THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGIT. 



BETHA BRIGTE INCIP1T. 

Lelar Brecc, p. 6i b . 



Hii sunt qui sequntur agnum quocunque ierit. .i. isiat so 
inlucht lenait innuan nemhelnide cipe conxu dech. 

lOham mac zepedei brundalta isu. comorba nahogi. ise roscrzb 
nabriaM/Tzsa. 7 foracaib iciiimne iat isineclazV cm/aide donfhocraic 
7 donlog dothidnaic dia dontresgrad nahechwi .i. dolucht nahoige 
.i. tochoscem innuain nemhelnide. 

INde iohannes hie ait. hii sunt qui sequntur agnum etc. ISe 
tmmurro leth atdibe inaisftor laheoin codu indep^rt remi inashosfe/a. 
Nemo potest dicere canticum nisi ilia .c. xl. iiiim. milia qui emperti 
(leg. redempti ?) sunt de terra, .i. fortitudinem uirtutum acipiunt 
pro terrenis. Nithic doneoch fordomun admolad dingmala no class- 

comadais do d6num donchoimdid. acht nech ecin dochom- 
naheckui cechtarda rocongbad ingenus 7 inoige. 7 rocend- 
gad doluag fola cm/. 

Uirgines enim sunt. Uair isiatsin nahoga codemin. conid 
forslicht nambria/Aarsin atb^ r iohannes. hii sunt qui sequntur 
agnum quocunque ierit id est uirgines tertius gradus eclesiae. 
Nam sunt gradus eclesiae quibus xxx.mus 7 .Ix.mus 7 .c.mus 
fructus datur testante iohanne Vicente. Ecce agnus dei. ecce qui 
lollet peccata mundi. Agnus hautem propter innocentiam dictus 
est. Sequntur agnum, quid enim est sequi christum nisi imitari 
cum. ut petrus ait. Sequimini uestigia eius .i. sequimini eum 
uirginitate cordis et carnis. quia caro utique agni uirgo est. Nihil 
enim prodest carnem habere uirginem si mente quis nupserit .i. 
Nitharmnaig doneoch techtasin colla oigi. mad trualnide omra- 
main. Uirginitas enim carnis corpus intactum libidine. uirginitas 
anime fides incorrupta. lactantia hautem uirginitatem perdit. 
uirgines enim de suis meritis gloriantes hipocritis comparantur. 
hoc enim est euangelio non habere uirgines oleum in uassis suis. 
non seruare intra concientiam boni operis testimonium. sed in 
facie gloriam (?) apud homines Arisft/ fil isintshosw /a ?idiat 



ON THE LIFE OF SAINT BRIGIT. 



Hi sunt, etc. These are the folk that follow the unpolluted 
Lamb, whatsoever way He may wend. 

John, son of Zebedee, Jesus bosom-fosterling, heir of the 
Virgin, he it is that wrote these words, and that left them in the 
Church Christian in memory of the reward and guerdon which 
God hath given to the third grade of the Church, namely, to the 
Virgins, that is, the following of the unpolluted Lamb. 

Inde Johannes, etc. Now this is the parallel part of the declar 
ation by John, as far as where he previously said in his Gospel (sic) 
Nemo potest, etc. There cometh not to any one on earth to make 
unto the Lord meet praise or fitting quire-song, save only of a 
surety one of the all-fullness of either Church, who hath been 
brought up in chastity and in virginity, and hath been redeemed 
with the price of Christ s blood. 

Virgincs enim sunt. For those are the virgins assuredly. So 
on the track of these words John saith Hi sunt, etc. 



Nihil enim prodest, etc. It profiteth not any one to have the 
flesh a virgin if he be corrupt in mind. Virginitas enim, etc. 



Hoc est enim in Evangelic, etc. For this is in the Gospel, that 
these are the virgins that have not oil in their vessels, namely, 



52 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc pp. 6i b . 62 s . 

nahoga natechtand ola inalestrrfib .i. nahoga nach forcoimeta 
deminqftf (?) inchoimded. acht maidmige fiad chach. 

Haec est falsa castitas (.i. uirginitas). quocunque ierit. hunc 
(.i. agnum) in eo quisque sequitur in quo imitatur. non quoniam 
ille filius dei est sed in quoniam filiis hominum se praebuit imitan- 
dum. quibus apostolus ait. Obsecro uos fratres ut exibeatis corpora 
uestra hostiam uiuam sanctam ueteris et noui testamenti placentem 
deo. Rochomailset din uas(al)at^r&lt;7ig intfmna nahdigi iremfiu- 
gra(d) cm/, rochomailset din. apsta/7 7 descipw/7 isu cm/ meic de 
bi i hi beos Martire 7 ancharait inchoimded. Noib 7 noeboga 
indomain archena. ama/ rochomaill innog uasal oirmitnech diata 
Kth 7 foraithmet inecmowg nareesea [p. 62*] 7 innahaimsire .i. 
sancta uirgo dei brigida .i. isann ian/flz celebrait nacrw/aide feil 
7 lithlathi nahi noembrigte .i. kl. ebrai arai lathi mi s g/ /ne. isinund 
on 7 arai lathi sechtmaine ismbli&fci a itaum dobeith fair. 

IXdist^r din sund ni diafertaib 7 diamirbulib 7 diagein chol- 
laide ineclojib nacmtaide. 

Brigit ingen dubtha/^- m^;c demri ( no dreimne) m c bre- 
sail m^ c dein mev c conla meic artrach mc artchirp mac coirpn 
nfad meic connate meic oengw^a mind meic echath find fuathnairt 
mt7*c fedli/n/^ rechtuda 7 rl. 

INdubthachsin tra mac demri. rochendachside cumail. broic- 
sech ahainm. ingen dallbrdnaig dodal concbobair adeisc&lt;frt breag. 
Roscentaig dubthach ico[m]mamj di r0wbahakr^tu uad. lArsin 
^daigis seug dubthaig immoncum&lt;7/7 .i. brechtnat blaithbec-ainm 
mna dubth&lt;w^. conepen inrigan. mina renasu inchumailsa itirib 
cianaib dobibwjsa (.i. doibegait) mothindscra dhit 7 regut uait. 



Nirbotol dodubthj^ recc nacumj//e et/ r. 

Dolluid dubth^f^ 7 acumj/ icarput immalle fns sech thegdais 
araile drwad. Orjcld indnii fogwr incharpa^ 1 istd roatbert! fe? 
agille ciafil isincarpw/. arisfogwr charpj// forig indso. Atb^rt 
ingilla dubtbzr^-fil and. luid indrai iarsin forcind incharpk?/?. coriar- 
iacht cdich inben b&lt;5i isincarpw/. Atlvrt dubthach cumal lemsa 
sin olse. Maithgen ainm indruad isuad ainmnigth^r ross maith- 
gen. IMchomarcis indroi cia orbohalachta inchuma/. Odhub- 
thach orinchumj/. Albert ind/tii bid amra ingein. nibia asamail 
isnatalnw//daib. 



On the Life of St. B 

the virgins that do not keep (to themselves) the approbation of 
the Lord, but (make) boasting before every one. 
Hate cst falsa autitas, etc. 



Now Patriarchs fulfilled the testament of virginity in prefigura- 
tion of Christ. And apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ son 
of the living God, fulfilled it also, the martyrs and anchorites of 
the Lord, the saints and holy virgins of the world besides, even 
as the holy, venerable virgin fulfilled it, she that hath a festival and 
a commemoration on the occasion of this season and this time, 
to wit, sancta rirgo Dd Brigida, for then it is that the Christians 
celebrate the feast and festal day of this holy Brigit, to wit, the 
Kalends of February as to the day of the solar month. 1 

Here then is related in the churches of the Christians some 
what of her miracles and man-els, and of her birth according to flesh. 

Brigit (was the) daughter of Dubthach, son of Demre (or 
Dreimne), son of Bresal, son of Den, son of Conla, son of An.. 
son of Art Corb. son of Cairpre the Champion, son of Connac. 
son of Oengus the Dumb, son of Eochaid Find Fuathnart, son of 
Fedlimid the Lawgiver, e 

. that Dubthach son of Demre bought a bondmaid, 
named Broicsech, daughter of Dallbronach of Dal Conchobair in 
the south of Bregia. Dubthach united himself in wedlock to her, 
and she became pregnant by him. Thereafter Dubthach s consort 
grew jealous of the bondmaid (Brechtnat Blaithbec was the name of 
Dubthach s wife), and the queen said "unless thou sellest this 
bondmaid in far-off lands, I will demand my dowry of thee, and I 
will go from thee." 

Dubthach did not at all desire to sell the bondmaid. 

Dubthach went, and his bondmaid along with him, in a chariot 
past the house of a certain wizard. When the wizard heard the 
noise of the chariot, this he said : " See, O gillie, who is in the 
chariot, for this is the noise of a chariot under a king. Said the 
gillie, " Dubthach is therein." Then the wizard went to meet the 
chariot, and he asked whose (was) the woman who was biding in the 
chariot. Said Dubthach, That is a bondmaid of mine," quoth he, 
Maithgen was the wizard s name, and from him Ross Maithgen is 
named. The wizard asked by whom the bondmaid was pregnant. 
" By Dubthach." says the bondmaid. Said the wizard, " Marvellous 
will be the offspring, the hie of her will not be in (all) the 1- 



cannot translate the rest of this arrtrncr.. 



54 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc p. 62*. 



Albert dubthach nildic dam mose tig cenacreicc nacunW/esi. 

Albert indrai tmrath faitsine fognife sil domnasu dosil 
nacumailesi. arberaid inchuma/ ingen uasal oirmitnech fiadainib 
intalm^w. ama/ taitnes gnan et/r rendaib. taitnigfet gnimruda ocus 
ariltne nahingene. 

Rofailtnig dubthach 7 incbumal desin. Albert dubthach uair 
techtaimsea macu. ropad maith leamm din combeih ingen occum. 

Dochoid dubthach iarsin diathig 7 achum&lt;z/ lais. Bahetaid 
immurro beos inben fhsincunW/. 

Bamor tra airmitiu nahinginisi ocdia. ardodechuter di epscop 
dobretnaib otd elpa (no alba) diataircetul 7 dianoebud .i. epscop 
mel 7 melchu (nomina eorum). Dorat immurro &ubthach failte 
doib. 7 dorigne inchum&lt;7/ anumaloit 7 atimthirecht. Bronach tra 
s6tig tiubthaig desiu. IMcomaircis epsw/ mel di fochund atorsi. 
Atb^rt inben ardoroisce &ubthach achumai l dimm. Atb^rt epscop 
mel isamlaid bias armz/ asbm. uair fognife dosflsa dosil naomW/e. 
acht tarmnaigfid asilse dotsflso. Bafergachsi deside. Roiarfoc^/ 
tra \ntepscop di ciamet m^c techtaisiu orse. Atb^rt inben se mez c 
olsi. Dixit eps^ mel. berasu insechtmad mac. 7 bid h^ bus mesa 
dfb. 7 bidatolca nanWc aile acht mine saera sil nacumaile iat. ocus 
bidatmallachdasu fein forinancr/de dogni donchum^z /. 



lArsna brkMrasin tra tanic araile drdi acrfch hua maccuais 
othochur maine dothig (\ubthaig. Orafit/r immurro indrrti combahi 
inchum^/ fochund fergi mna Aubthaig albert indr^i. increcfa inchu- 
mat L crecfat o&gt;r&lt;\ubthach. Atb^-tsat naihepscmp. crecc incumat/ 
ocus nacrecc inngein fil inabroind. Doroine &ubthach 



Dochuaid ass indrai 7 inchuma/ lais. Dodechaid mdrai con- 
z / diathaig. 1 

Tanic araile filid acr/ch rh0aille dothaig indmad remrati 
doluag 2 mogad no chumz /e. Rocrecc indrai fa s inchuma/ ocus 

1 This sentence comes in the MS. after the next two. 

2 MS. doluad. 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 



Said Dubthach, " My consort did not allow me not to sell this 
bondmaid." 

Said the wizard through his gift of prophecy, " Thy wife s 
seed shall serve this bondmaid s seed, for the bondmaid will bring 
forth a daughter, noble, revered, before the men of the earth. As 
sun shineth among stars, (so) will shine the maiden s deeds and 
merits." 

Dubthach and the bondmaid rejoiced thereat, (and) Dubthach 
said, "Since I have (already) sons, I should like to have a 
daughter." 

Then Dubthach went (back) to his house and his bondmaid 
with him. The wife however was still jealous of the bondmaid. 

Great was the honour in which God held this girl. For two 
bishops of the Britons came to her from Alba to prophesy of her 
and to sanctify her, to wit, Bishop Mel and Melchu nomina eorum. 
So Dubthach gave them a welcome and the bondmaid served them 
and tended them. Now Dubthach s consort was mournful thereat, 
and Bishop Mel asked her the cause of her sadness. Said the 
wife, "Because Dubthach hath distinguished his bondmaid from me." 
Said Bishop Mel, " Thus shall it be as thou sayest, for thy seed 
shall serve the seed of the bondmaid, but her seed shall be profitable 
unto thy seed." She was angry with him. So the bishop asked her, 
" How many sons hast thou ?" Said the wife, " Six sons." Dixit 
Bishop Mel, " Thou shalt bear the seventh son, and he will be the 
worst of them, and the other sons will be bad unless the bondmaid s 
seed ennobles them, and thou thyself shalt be accursed, because 
of the cruelty which thou shewest to the bondmaid." 

After these words there came to Dubthach s house, out of the 
border of Hui-Maiccuais, 1 another wizard who had been gathering 
treasures. Now when the wizard knew that the bondmaid was 
the cause of the anger of Dubthach s wife, he said, " Wilt thou 
sell the bondmaid ?" " I will sell," saith Dubthach. Quoth the 
bishops, " Sell the bondmaid, but sell not the child that is in her 
womb." Thus did Dubthach. 

The wizard went forth and the bondmaid with him. The 
wizard with his bondmaid arrived at his house. 

A certain poet came out of the province of Conaille 2 to the 
house of the wizard aforesaid in order to buy a slave or a bondmaid. 

1 Four districts so called are mentioned by the Four Masters : Ui-Mic-Uai.s 
(now Moygish) in Westmeath, Ui-Mic-Uais Airghiall, Ui-Mic-Uais-an-Fhachla, 
Ui-Mic-Uais Breagh. 

2 Probably Conaille-Murthemne in the County of Louth. 



56 Eetha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 62*, 6s b . 

nirochrecc inchoimp^rt. isand dorala dondrai fled mor dodenum 
7 dorogart rig conzille chuice donfleid. isand \.ra ropamm tw^meda 
domnai inrig. Boi faith icoimtecht inrig coriarfar^/ de cara donrig. 
Ciahuair bid maith donrigain 1 tusmmd intsil rigdai. dixit propheta. 
in gein notw^mtha imbarach la turgbail ngraie nofomaisligfed 
czch turned inein#. Remdechaid dana turned na rigna inuarsin 
corruc mac marb. i^acht din infile donfaith dws cia huair bud 
maith donchumaz / turned. Atbt infaith ingein notw-remtha im 
barach laturcbail ngrme. 7 nabud itaig na^ [p. 62 b ] amuig 
doroiscfed cech ngein inein . 



INtan dodech^&lt;/ incumal iarnabarach latwrcabaij ngrme ocus 
lestar Ian dolemnac^/ inalaim. intan tuc acois dartairsech intaige 
istech. 7 in choss aile amuig. isandsin rue iningein .i. noembrigit. 

Nigset nabantimthirid iningen donl^mnac^/ bdi illaim am- 
thar. Bsicubaid tra sin fr/hariltne noembrig/e .i. fh adellrud ocus 
fn ataitnem ahdgi. 

Hicetain din 7 inochtmad uatru&/ rogenair brig? / ifochart 
mwrthemni. Ata beos frz sineckzir anairdess inlecc forsangenair 
brig//. 7 rucad iningen focMoir iarnabreith c^inmac marb narigna. 
7 orosiacht anail mbrigte chucca atr^cht abas coluath. 

Luid \2caum indrai 7 (in) churns/ ^wahingin icrfch chotmacht. 
zmdthan dochonnacfaaib. ahathair amwwain. aaittreb la connacht- 
aib. 

INaraile 16 luid inchumal dia hinis. 7 dofalaig ahingen ina- 
taig. ifcwmcatar araile comaicse integdais amboi iningen forlassad 
cond?rna breo thened di othalm#m coneam. intan tancater docho- 
bair intaige niroartmigset 2 intene 7 ised atb^rtsat cowbalan dorath 
inspir/a noib iningen. 

Laa naile dochuaid indrai acumail dochuairt inacet^n. 
incannadas b(5i forcind nahingine itcess forlassad. orosinset alama 
chuci. indrai 7 inchum^/ niroartraig intene. 



Facs. rigam. * Read niroartraig. 






On the Life nf St. Brigit. 57 



The wizard sold him the bondmaid, but sold him not the offspring. 
Then it came to pass that the wizard made a great feast, and bade 
the king of Conaille to the feast, and it was then the time for the 
king s wife to bear a child. There was a prophet along with the 
king, and a friend of the king s asked him what hour would be 
lucky for the queen to bring forth the royal offspring. Dixit pro- 
pheta, " The child that shall be brought forth to-morrow at sunrise 
shall overtop every birth in Ireland." Now the queen s travail 
came on before that hour, and she brought forth a dead son. 
Then the poet asked the prophet what hour would be lucky for 
the bondmaid to bring forth ? Said the poet, " The child that shall 
be brought forth to-morrow at sunrise, and neither within the 
house nor without, shall surpass every child in Ireland." 

Now on the morrow, at sunrise, when the bondmaid was 
going with a vessel full of milk in her hand, and when she put one 
foot over the threshold of the house inside and the other foot out 
side, then did she bring forth the girl, to wit, Brigit. 

The maid-servants washed the girl with the milk that was in 
her mother s hand. Now that was in accord with the merits of 
Saint Brigit, to wit, with the brightness and sheen of her chastity. 

On a Wednesday and in the eighth moon was Brigit born in 
Fothart Murthemni. 1 Still, to the south-east of the church is the 
flagstone whereon Brigit was born, and the girl was taken straight 
way after her birth to the queen s dead son, and when Brigit s 
breath came to him he swiftly arose out of death. 

Then the wizard and the bondmaid with her daughter went 
into the province of Connaught : her mother (was) of Connaught, 
her father out of Munster, her abode with the Connaughtmen. 

On a certain day the bondmaid went to her island, and covered 
up her daughter in her house. Certain neighbours saw the house 
wherein was the girl all ablaze, so that a flame of fire was made of 
it from earth to heaven. But when they went to rescue 2 the house, 
the fire appeared not, and this they said, that the girl was full of 
the Holy Spirit. 

One day the wizard went with his bondmaid to visit the cattle. 
The cow-dung (?) that lay before the girl was seen ablaze. But 
when the wizard and the bondmaid stretched down their hands to 
it, the fire appeared not. 

1 Fochaird Muirthemhne occurs in the Four Masters, A. D. 248. O Dono- 
van says it is Foughard in the County of Louth, about two miles to the north 
of Dundalk. 

2 lit. to help. 



58 BetJia Brigte, Lebar Brecc, p. 62 b . 



Tan and roscotail indrai comtsacca trzar clerech ine taigib 
gelaib .i. trz haingil donim. 7 roimbretar ola forcend noembrig/e 
^wraforbachsat ord nabatsi. 7 atb^rt intres clerech frz sindrai Bidhe 
ahainm nanoeminginese sancta brigita. Atracht indrai 7 roraid 
inni at&lt;:h0;mairc. 

Roalt ira inndebingensa .i. brigz / ochomairbz rt bith 7 samail 
frz acombessaib archena 7 nofrithbruitiud (.i. noobad) tecosc in- 
druad 7 noasced. Roimraid indrai iningen. ddig lais combad 
aringlaine 7 arcoirpthecht abfid. corerb iarsin bo find hdd^rg 
diablegun do brigz / 7 erbais bannscal niressaig diablegun. domeil 
iningen insasad sin. 



Roalt innoemingensin ^wzbatimthirid 7 cer^ni fnsacomraiced 
alam noforbred 7 noairmitniged dia. Nosforbred cechcuccan 
atchid 7 dathimthired. nolesaiged nacserchu. nothimtired dodhall- 
aib. nobiathad bochtu. 

Accobair do brigz / techt dothdrruma ahathardu. 7 rofhoid 
indrai techta codubthach cotised f&lt;?rcend aingine. roindiset natech- 
ta dodubthach ferta 7 mirbuli hile inahingine. Teit dubthack 
i&ium 7 feraid indr^i failte fr. 7 dorat dd afngein saeir. 



~Lotar iarsin dochumm atire .i. dubthach 7 aingen .i. 
hicnch hua failge. conid andsin dosgni \&gt;rigit firt namra .i. amum- 
mi boi anindlubra galair. 7 fdidis inmummi intii noembrz^-z / 7 
araile ingin immalle frza. dothig araile fir. Boethcu aainmside. 1 
dochuinchid dige dochormaimm fair, erais brigtf. Rolin l&gt;rigit 
iarsin lestor asaraile topur. 7 rosb^nach corasoud imblass chorm^ 
ma. 7 dosb^zr damw/wmi wwbahdgslan de foc^e^oir. INtan ira 
docoas diahdl naflede nifrz th banna di. 



Ba dof&lt;?rtaib brig/e diamboi ocingaire mucc dubthaz^. tanca- 
dar damerlech cutallsat dathorcc dontreot. dochotar darsinmag 
cocomranic dubthach frzu 7 corosnaisc eraicc amucc forru. A.iberf 
dubfhach fribrz^z / inmaith ingaire namucc aingen olse. dixit "brigit 
iri dubthach airimse namucca. roairim dubthach namucca 7 nicon- 
to/a ni dib. 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 59 

Once upon a time when the wizard was sleeping, he saw three 
clerics in white garments, to wit, three angels of heaven, and they 
poured oil on St. Brigit s head, and they, completed the order of 
baptism. And the third cleric said to the wizard " This shall be 
the name of this holy maiden : Sancta Bri gita" The wizard arose, 
and told what he had beheld. 

Now this holy virgin, namely, Brigit, was nourished with food 
and like to her compeers (?) besides, and she rejected the guid 
ance of the, wizard and used to give it (the food) away. The 
wizard meditated on the girl, and it seemed to him that it was 
because of the impurity and the corruption of his food. Then he 
enjoined a white red-eared cow to give milk to Brigit, and he 
enjoined a faithful woman to milk the cow. The virgin took her 
fill of that. 

That holy virgin was reared till she was a handmaiden, and 
everything to which her hand was set used to increase and rever 
ence God. Every store of food which she saw and served used 
to grow. She bettered the sheep : she tended the blind : she fed 
the poor. 

Brigit was minded to go and watch over her fatherland. And 
the wizard sent messengers to Dubthach, that he might come 
for his daughter. The messengers declared unto Dubthach the 
maiden s miracles and many wonders. Then Dubthach came, and 
the wizard bade him welcome, and gave him his daughter free. 

Then they went to their country, Dubthach and his daughter 
Brigit, in the province of Offaly j 1 and there did Brigit work a 
wondrous miracle, to wit, her fostermother was in weakness of 
disease, and the fostermother sent the holy Brigit and another 
maiden with her to the house of a certain man named Boethchu", 
to ask him for a draught of ale. He refused Brigit. Then Brigit 
filled a vessel out of a certain well, and blessed it, and (the water) 
was turned into the taste of ale, and she gave it to her foster- 
mother, who straightway became whole thereby. Now when they 
went to drink the banquet not a drop thereof was found. 

This (was another) of Brigit s miracles : while she was herd 
ing Dubthach s swine, there came two robbers and carried off two 
boars of the flock. They fared over the plain, and Dubthach met 
them and bound on them the eric (mulct) of his swine. Said 
Dubthach to Brigit, " Is the herding of the swine good, my girl ?" 
saith he. Dtxit Brigit to Dubthach, " Count thou the swine." 
Dubthach counted the swine, and not one of them was wanting. 

1 in Leinster. 



60 Betha Brigte, Lebar Brecc, pp. 62 b , 63*. 



Luidset din aigid co&ubthach. rannais tiubthach assil tsalli hi 
cdic tdchtaib. 7 foracaib ocbrigit diambruith. doluid cu goirt elsco- 
thach isintech cobn git. dorat brtgtt di incdiced tdcht arthrocaire. 
On/^caith incii intdchtsin dorat brigtf tdcht aile do. Tanic Aub- 
thach iarsin 7 atb^rt fr/a brigit inroberbais insaill 7 inmarait uli 
naherranda. airimsea iat (Abrigit. roairim ftuUhach 7 nithesta nf 
clib. itchuatar nahaigid do tiubthach inni dorigne brtgtf. Atimdai 
OT&ubthach ferta nahinginesin. niroscaithset iarw^ na haigid inbiad. 
uair roptar esindraice. acht rofodlad [p 63a] dobochtaib 7 do- 
aidelcnech^ inchoimded. 



Fecht and dorothlaig araile bannscal iressach tt&ubthach 
twdigsead brtgit lea amuig life, arbdi comthinol senaid laigen and. 
Rofoillsiged hifhis diaraile fir noeb bdi isindail .i. muire ingen 
dothidecht dochumm nadala. 7 atb^rt fh ss wnatrifer isindail. Teit 
inbannscal iarnabarach 7 \srigit immalle fr/a docum nadala. 7 inti 
itchonnairc infis ise&lt;/ atb^rt. issi seo inmuire iteh&lt;?;znarcsa orse 
tribrigit. Ronb^nachsat inuli slogu inti noembn^ / foanmaimm 1 
7 ondir muire. com dhi \&gt;rigit mwz re nangsedel dsin ille. 



Fecht and tanic form^main brigte. trz arath inspir/0 noib. 
techt 3 dofiss seel am//for bdi indaire corochuindig ceat aathar. 
7 nitharut di. araide dochuaidsi cenchetugud dd dubthach. Ba- 
heim donmdthatY intan doriacht. basast/^rach bagallrach mmattair 
7 ro . . . . daressi amathai. 7 rogab forlesugud nahairge. INcet- 
na maistred ira dosgni brigtt rosfodail athorud indibrendaib dec 
inonoir da aps/a/ .x. induileman. 7 rosuidig intres cuibrend dec 
corba mou he indas czch cuibrend inonoir isu cm/. 7 dosrat 3 uli 
iar#z dobochtaib inchoimded. Romt^/naig immurro buachail 
indruad innordugw&lt;/ tuc brz^z / forsin immum. ISand sin atb^rt 
krigit. Cmt conadib aps/alu .x. dorigne precept do dainib indo- 
main. isnaainm sasaimsea bochtu. ar bid cm/ ip^rsaind ce^ bocht 
iressach. 



Luid intara (.i. inbu(a)chail) dothaig indruad. 7 ro izrfacht 
de indrai 7 aben inmaith lesaiges inndg inairge. ut dixit intara 

1 Facs. foanniainm. 2 Facs. decht. 

a In the facsimile there is a dot over the t. 



On Ike Life of St. Brigit. 61 

Guests, then, came to Dubthach. Dubthach sundered a gam 
mon of bacon into five pieces, and left them with Brigit to be 
boiled. And a miserable, greedy hound came into the house to 
Brigit. Brigit out of pity gave him the fifth piece. When the 
hound had eaten that piece Brigit gave another piece to him. 
Then Dubthach came and said to Brigit : " Hast thou boiled the 
bacon, and do all the portions remain ?" " Count them," saith 
Brigit. Dubthach counted them, and none of them was wanting. 
The guests declared unto Dubthach what Brigit had done. 
" Abundant," saith Dubthach, " are the miracles of that maiden." 
Now the guests ate not the food, for they were unworthy (thereof), 
but it was dealt out to the poor and to the needy of the LORD. 

Once upon a time a certain faithful woman asked Dubthach 
that Brigit might go with her into the plain of the Liffey, for a 
congregation of the synod of Leinster was held there. And it 
was revealed in a vision to a certain holy man who was in the 
assembly, that Mary the Virgin was coming thereto, and it was 
told him that she would not be (accompanied) by a man in the 
assembly. 1 On the morrow came the woman to the assembly, and 
Brigit along with her. And he that had seen the vision said 
" This is the Mary that I beheld 1" saith he to Brigit. The holy 
Brigit blessed all the hosts under the name and honour of Mary. 
Wherefore Brigit was (called) the Mary of the Gael thenceforward. 

On a time it came into Brigit s mind, through the grace of 
the Holy Ghost, to go and see her mother who was in bondage. 
So she asked her father s leave, and he gave it not. Nevertheless, 
she went without permission from Dubthach. Glad was her 
mother when she arrived. Toil-worn and sickly was the mother 

and she (Brigit) for her mother, and took to bettering 

the dairy. The first churning that Brigit had she divided the fruit 
thereof into twelve shares in honour of the twelve apostles of the 
Creator, and she set the thirteenth portion so that it was greater 
than every (other) portion in honour of Jesus Christ, and she 
gave them all then to the poor of the Lord. Now the wizard s 
herdsman marvelled at the ordering that Brigit gave the butter. 
Then said Brigit : " Christ with his twelve apostles preached to the 
men of the world. In His name it is that I feed the poor, for 
Christ is in the person of every faithful poor man." 

The charioteer (that is the herdsman) went to the wizard s 
house, and the wizard and his wife asked him " hath the virgin well 



Very doubtful. Should we read con-ndtri fir ne exsurgat vir ? 



62 Betha Brigte,. Lebar Brecc, p. 



{.i. inbuachail) Ambuidechsa cipind&tf 7 atremra nal(5ig. uair 
nirolam e*cnach mbrig/e inahecmais. Doberi intara ruse lais 
ochtnduird ina ardi. dixit intara fria "brigit doraga indrai rwamnai 
dolinad inruiscsea do immim natogorta (.i. nahairge). Mochen 
jdoib olbngi f. Tanic indrai 7 asetig don airge owacutar naloig 
remra. fi?rais bn7/ failte firm 7 tuc biad doib. IS andsin atb^rt 
,ben indruad fribrigif. ised tancwwar dafis d^ inrosgab gram inni 
roherbad duit. Cid fil dimmim ocut. Niboi aicesium inerlaime 
acht torud 3enmhaist?rda coleith. 7 dosb&lt;?rt inleth hfsin fortiis. 
Rofaitbester lasodain ben indruad 7 ised atb^rt. ismaith orsi 
Dolinad rdisc moir accum inmdit nimmesea. Lmaid bar ruse ol br?^ / 
7 dobera dia imm ind. Nothegedsi beus inaculid 7 dob^read leth 
toraid cef^afecais esti. uair nirbail dodia ahenechsi dobreith cora- 
h nad inrusc fonindw^sin. 7 ised nogebedsi octecht inaculid. 



Add amorurisea 
. conic inahuilisea 

bffwnach ade nuall cengeis 

cotlaim deis inculidsea. 

Ti mac muire mochara 

dobnachad mochuile 

flaith indomain cohimbel 

ronbe imbed lasuide. 

Ro ermitnig indrai 7 asetig incoimdid triasinfirt atchonncatar 
conid annsin atb&lt;?rt indrai frz a bngi^ INtirnm 7 nabii robligis 
idpraimsea duit iat. nisbia indaire damsa acht fogain donchoimdid. 
Rosfrecair brigit d6 7 atb^rt fris. bersiu nabu 7 tabair damsa 
sairse momdthar. atb^rt indrui. acht sserfaith^r domdt/iaiY. doberihar 
duit nabii 7 secipni atb/ra dogensa. rofodail brigtf nabii doboch- 
taib 7 doaidilcnechaib de. robaitsed indrai 7 bahiressach 7 bdi 
icomitecht brig/e osin immach. 



Tanic Wgit iarsin 7 zmdthair lea cotech ahath^r. AccotxK? 
iarsin ftubthach 7 asdtig creicc inti noem brig/e indaire. uair 
baholcc la dubthach aindile 7 aindmas dofodail dobochtaib. 
7 ised sin dognid bngtf. Luid tra dubthach icarpw/ 7 br/^/ / immalle 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 63 

cared for the dairy?" And the charioteer (2. e., the herdsman) said 
" I am thankful anyhow, and the calves are fat" for he durst not 
carp at Brigit in her absence. The charioteer took with him 
a firkin (?), eight fists in height. Said the charioteer to Brigit : 
" The wizard will come with his wife to fill this firkin with the 
butter of the dairy." " They are welcome," saith Brigit. The 
wizard and his consort came to the dairy, and beheld the calves fat. 
And Brigit made them welcome and brought them food. Then 
said the wizard s wife to Brigit : " We have come to know whether 
that which hath been entrusted to thee hath profited. Of butter 
what hast thou?" She had none in readiness, except the mak 
ing of one churning and a half making, and she first brought the 
half. The wizard s wife mocked thereat and said : " This quantity 
of butter," says she, " is good to fill the big firkin that I have \" 
" Fill your firkin" saith Brigit, " and God will put butter into it." 
So she kept going still into her kitchen and carrying out of it a 
half making at every journey, for God did not wish to deprive her 
of honour, so in that wise the firkin was filled. And this is what 
she repeated on going into her kitchen 

O God, O my Prince 

Who canst do all these things, 

Bless, O God (a cry unforbidden), 

With thy right hand this kitchen ! 

May Mary s Son, my Friend, come 

To bless my kitchen ! 

The Prince of the world to the border, 

May we have abundance with Him ! 

The wizard and his consort venerated the Lord because of the 
miracle which they beheld ; wherefore then said the wizard to Brigit : 
" The butter and the kine that thou hast milked, I offer them to thee. 
Thou shalt not abide in bondage to me, but serve thou the Lord/ 
Brigit answered him and said : " Take thou the kine and give 
me my mother s freedom." Said the wizard : " Not only shall thy 
mother be freed, (but) the kine shall be given to thee, and what 
soever thou shalt say (that) will I do." Then Brigit dealt out the 
kine unto the poor and the needy of God. The wizard was baptiz 
ed and was faithful, and accompanied Brigit from that time forth. 
Then came Brigit, and her mother with her, to her father s 
house. Thereafter Dubthach and his consort were minded to sell 
the holy Brigit into bondage ; for Dubthach liked not his cattle 
and his wealth to be dealt out to the poor, and that is what Brigit 



64 Betha Brigte, Lclar Brccc, pp. 63% 6$ b . 

fris. ised atb&lt;?rt &ubthach fri brigit niforonoir na forairmitin duit 
dotberar icarpw/. acht dotbreith dotchreicc 7 dobleith broan do 
dunlang mac enda dorig laigen. Orancatar dun inrig luid dubthach 
isindun cusindrig. boi brigit inacarpw/ indorus induine. foracaib 
dubthach aclaideb isincarpw/ ifail mbrig/e. Dothaet [p. 63 b ] 
clam co brigit dochuinch/&lt;/ almsaine. dob^-rsi c\aideb Aubthaig do. 
Dixit Aubthach fnsinrig incendgaid cwwail .i. mingensa orse. dixit 
dunlaing cid foracrecca tingin fen. dixit dubthach ni anand ocreicc 
mindmais 7 icathabairt dobochtaib. dixit inrig. toet inog isindun. 
Toet &ubthach arcend br/g/e. 7 fergaigis 1 fna ior%.z\aideb dotabairt 
donbocht. 2 Otanic brigit ifiadnaise inrig. atb^rt fr/a inri. intan ise 
indmas tathar aingen gatai. ismor mo diacendgorsa gtai mindmas 
7 mindile. 7 dosb/rai dobochtaib. dixit br^/ / rofitz r mac nahingine 
damad lemsa dochumungsa colagnib 7 cotuli indmas dob/raind 
donchoimdid nandula. dixit inri tri&ubthach Nidat comadais dibli- 
naib dochunnrad nahinginesea. arisuasli ahairilhW fiadia oldaini. 
7 domb^rt inri claideb det dodhubtha^ daracend. et sic liberata 
est sancta uirgo brigita captiuitate. 



Garit iarsin cotanic araile fer sochenowl co&ubthach dochuin- 
chid aingine. batol dodhubth^^ 7 diamacaib inm sin. rosopustar 
ira Wgit. Atb^rt bratha/V diabrathrib friasi .i. beccan aainmsium. 
isespach insiiil caeim fil atchindsa cenabeith foradart hifail fir. 
Roftor mac nahingine clbrigt f nibeoda dunni masahi dosbeir 
pudar forinn. Dorat brigif indsin am6r foasiiil rowastall asacind 
comboi foragruad. 7 artwt acso duit dosuil nalaind abeccain. 
Moidis ira asuilside focheVoir. Otchonnairc tiubthach 7 abrathirsi 
sin. gellsat nachepertha fna dul cofer dogre s dorat iarsin adernaind 
fmrosc ^wbahogslan fo^//dir. nirboslan \ra suil beccain coabas. 



Atb^rt dubthach frza brigit A ingen olse geib kattte fortchend. 
mad rochindis togi dodia nitgetsa aire. deo gratias ol brigit. 



Ms. fergaidis. a Facs. donbcht. 



On the Life of St. Briglt. 65 



used to do. So Dubthach fared in his chariot, and Brigit along 
with him. Said Dubthach to Brigit : " Not for honour or rever 
ence to thee art thou carried in a chariot, but to take thee to sell 
thee, and to grind the quern for Dunlang MacEnda, King of Lein- 
ster." 1 When they came to the King s fortress, Dubthach went in 
to the King and Brigit remained in her chariot at the fortress door. 
Dubthach had left his sword in the chariot near Brigit. A leper 
came to Brigit to ask an alms. She gave him Dubthach s sword. 
Dixit Dubthach to the King : " Wilt thou buy a bondmaid, namely, 
my daughter?" says he. Dixit Dunlang: "Why sellest thou 
thine own daughter ?" Dixit Dubthach : " She stayeth not from 
selling my wealth and giving it to the poor." Dixit the King : 
" Let the maiden come into the fortress." Dubthach went for 
Brigit and was enraged against her, because she had given his 
sword to the poor man. When Brigit came into the King s pre- 
.sence, the King said to her : " Since it is thy father s wealth that 
thou takest, much more, if I buy thee, wilt thou take my wealth 
and my cattle and give them to the poor ?" Dixit Brigit : " The 
Son of the Virgin knoweth if I had thy might with (all) Leinster, 
and with all thy wealth I would give (them) to the Lord of the 
Elements." Said the King to Dubthach : " Thou art not fit on either 
hand to bargain about this maiden, for her merit is higher before 
God than before men." And the King gave Dubthach for her an 
ivory-hilled sword, et sic libcrata est sancta virgo Brigila captivitatc. 

^-Shortly after that came a certain nobleman unto Dubthach 
to ask for his daughter (in marriage). Dubthach and his sons 
were willing, but Brigit refused. Said a brother of her brethren 
named Beccan unto her : " Idle is the fair eye that is in thy head 
not to be on a pillow near a husband." " The Son of the Virgin 
knoweth," says Brigit, " it is not lively for us if it brings harm upon 
us." Then Brigit put her finger under her eye, and drew it out of 
her head till it was on her cheek ; and she said : " Lo, here for thee 
is thy delightful eye, O Beccan !" Then his eye burst forthwith. 
When Dubthach and her brethren beheld that, they promised that 
she should never be told to go unto a husband. Then she put 
her palm to her eye and it was quite whole at once. But Bee- 
can s eye was not whole till his death. 

Said Dubthach to Brigit : " O daughter, says he, " put a veil 
on thy head. If thou hast dedicated thy virginity to God, I will 
not snatch it from Him." Deo gratias, says Brigit. 

1 A Dunlang mac Enna Niadh, ri Laigen occurs in the Four Masters, A. D. 
241. As Brigit is said to have died A. D. 523, there is probably some error here. 



66 Betha Brigte, Lebar Brecc, pp. 64% 6^, 6^. 

Luid brigit 7 araile dga immalle fra dogab[ail] challe 
cdhepscop mel itelcha mide. Bafailid side frz u. Anais brigit aru- 
maloit ttwzbadiside dedinach forsatib^rtha calle. Atracht columu 
tenntide diacind cocleithe naheckm. Roiarfaig 1 epscop mel. ciahdg 
suut. Rofrecair mac caille brigV/ sin orse. Tair anoembrigt? 
corosentar caille fortchend rasnahogu aile oresc^p mel. 



IS/ dorala ann tm rath inspir/a ndib. grd epscmp derlegend 
for brfgit. Albert mac caille conarbz hord grad nepscm p forbann- 
scail. dixit epscop m61. Nocolemm achomw^. uair is o dia doratad 
inremiadsin sech cech mbannscail di. Conid onoir epscuip dob^rat 
fir QYenn dochomorbii br/ g(t)e. 



INochtmaid uathaztf rogenair. inochtmad d^c rogab caille 
f&lt;?racend. inochtmaid fichet dochoid dochumm nime. Conocht 
ndgaib rocoisecrad brigit folin ocht mbiaiti intdosr7a rocho- 
maillestor. Maraid beus coss nahaltori boi illaim bn g/e. cia 
roloiscthea natn* cossa aile. 

Ba dof&lt;?rtaib brig/e orachomacsig solkwain nacasc gabais 
brigit inaraile locc icomfacnzib doepscop m^l gar ria caplait. 
ropail dobrtgt f tn a deircc cdirm dode nw/w dona heck-rib immdaib 
robatar immpe 7 nirbognath [p. 64 b ] coirmm dodenum isinaimsir- 
sin. acht nirothecht brigit acht senmiach bracha. Nirabatar lestair 
la mtir brig/e acht dalothar. doronsat dabaig dondaraloth^r. ocus 
rolinsat indlestar aile donchormaimm. 7 doberiis nahoga bew 
obrigz / inchoirm dona heckjib. 7 balan bzus oc brigit foracind 
inlestar corourthastar torad inasnmeich bracha tnasobarthain 
mbrz g/e secht neclori fer telach arincaplait 7 arocht lathib nacasc. 



[p. 6$ b . 1. 28] Oraforbad sollamain nacasc roiarfaig 1 brigif 
dahingenaib inrabai fuigell occu dolind nacasc. Atb^rtsat nahoga. 
dobera dia biad olsiat. isandsin tancatar daingin istech 7 dr^lmach 
Ian do usa leo. Rofitzr mac nahingine olbrigit ata maith and. doig 
leesi ftwfbacoirmm. isdeniu 2 raid ama/ atb^rtsi sin rosoud intus 
hicoirmm togaide focetoir. 



MS. Roiarfaid 2 Facs seems deniti&lt; 



On the Life of Si. Brigit. 67 



Brigit, and certain virgins with her, went to Bishop Me*!, in 
Telcha Mide, to take the veil. Glad was he thereat. For hum 
bleness Brigit staid, so that she might be the last to whom the 
veil should be given. A fiery pillar arose from her head to the 
ridgepole of the church. Bishop Mel asked : " What virgin is 
there ?" Answered MacCaille : " That is Brigit," saith he. " Come 
thou, O holy Brigit," saith Bishop Mel, " that the veil may be 
sained on thy head before the other virgins." 

It came to pass then, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, 
that the form of ordaining a bishop was read over Brigit. Mac 
Caille said that the order of a bishop should not be (conferred) on 
a woman." Dixit Bishop Mel : " No power have I in this matter, 
inasmuch as by God hath been given unto her this honour beyond 
every woman." Hence, it is that the men of Ireland give the 
honour of a bishop to Brigit s successor. 

In the eighth (day) of the lunar month (?) was she born. On 
the eighteenth did she take the veil oa her head. On the twenty- 
eighth did she go to heaven. Together with eight virgins was 
Brigit consecrated. According to the number of the eight beati 
tudes of the gospel did she fulfil (her course). 

This was one of Brigit s miracles. When the solemnity of 
Easter drew nigh, Brigit set up, shortly before Maunday-Thursday, 
in a certain place near unto Bishop Mel. Brigit desired, through 
(her) charity, to brew ale for the many churches that were around 
her, and it was not usual to brew ale at that time. Brigit possessed 
only one measure of malt, and Brigit s family had no vessels save 
two troughs. They made a tub of one of the two vessels, and 
they filled the other vessel with the ale, and the virgins kept tak 
ing the ale from Brigit to the churches, and still the vessel before 
Brigit remained full. And thus the produce of one measure of 
malt, through Brigit s blessing, supplied (?) seven churches of 
Fir Telach 1 for Maunday-Thursday and for the eight days of 
Easter. 

When the solemnity of Easter was fulfilled, Brigit asked her 
maidens whether they had the leavings of the Easter ale. Replied 
the virgins : " God will give food," say they. Then two maidens 
came in with a tub full of water. " The Virgin s Son knoweth," says 
Brigit, " that there is good (ale) there." She thought that it was 
ale. Quicker than speech, as she said that, the water was turned 
into choice ale forthwith. 



Now Fartullagh, a barony in the County Westmeath. 



68 Betha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 63^ 64*. 

Dochuaid brigit coaraile eclat s itir thethba dochelebrad nacasc. 
oragab brigit forosaic diadardain cendla donasenorib 7 donadainib 
fannaib batar isindeckzir. Cethrar dodhainib galair robatar and .i 
duine abrachtach 7 dasachtach 7 dall 7 clam. Dorigne brigtj 
anosaie acethrar. 7 rohiccha fochetoir ocech theidm boi form. 

Fecht boi brigit itaig foraigidecht ra/zdechsat 1 uli immach acht 
macc&m .iiii. blizdan .x. boi cenlabra riam. 7 cenlud icois no ilaim 
do. 7 nisfitzr brigit abeth amkz&lt;/. &lt;wzid annsin tancatar oegid istech 
cobrigit. Albert brigit frzsinmaccaem frz thoil nahoegedu. Dogen 
arinrmzrcsem. Atracht focMoir 7 dogni timthirecht nanoiged. ocus 
ropogslanscw osin immach. 

ISandsin dorala comddl fer nerenn itailltin inairmm amboi 
patraz c. 7 senad clerech nerenn imbi. Dochuater din docum 
nadala .i. brigtf 7 epscop mel. Tainic araile bannscal docum 
nadala 7 lenabb ina laim. 7 ised ztbert conid laheps^ mbron 
inlenabb. Rodmlt tra inteps&lt;r^ anfsin. Roiarfaig 2 brtgit don- 
bannscail cia orochoimpr&lt;?star ingein. 7 roraid frza ^nahebred 
breic. 7 rofrecair inben. iso epscop bron olsi. rolin tra att atengaid 
foc^/oir ^nacoemnacair labra. dorat brigit arrdhe na crochi darab61 
nanoiden. 7 roiarfaig. 3 cia thathazrsiu. rorecair innoidiu 7 isft/atb^rt. 
Duine d&lt;?roil fil animul inairechta ise sin mathair olse. corosserad 
epscop bron am/azi/sin trzarath mbrz g/e. 



Luid brigit doacalkzw patmzV immuig lemne. diamboi ocpr^- 
cept sostela. 4 wwidrochotail brigit frzsin precept, dixit patratc cid 
forarchotlais. Refill brigit agluni fot/^H 7 is^ atb*rt. fis itownarc 
olsi. dixit patrazc indis dun inffs. Atc^narc olsi .iiii. arathru 
anairdheas 7 roarsatar [p. 64**] innulinindsi 7 riasiu rosiacht asilad 
rofhas inbuain. Tancatar topair gela 7 srotha taitnemacha asnahe- 
trzgib 7 4taige gela imnasiltaidib 5 7 imnahairemnu. Atonarc 6 .iiii. 
harathru aile atuaid. 7 roarsetar aninnsi fortharsnu. 7 resiasiu 7 rosiacht 
inbuain doridise roas incorca. rosilsat foc^d?oir corboabaid. 8 ocus 



1 dot over d. 2 Facs. Roiafaid. 3 Ms. roiarfaid. 4 Facs. sosa. 
5 Ms. siltaigib. 6 Facs. Atconnairc. 7 R ea d r i as j u ? 8 M S&gt; a b a ig. 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 69 

Brigit went to a certain church in the land of Teffia 1 to cele 
brate Easter, when Brigit took to washing the feet of the old men 
and the feeble folk who were in the church. Four of the sick 
people there, were a maimed man, a madman, a blind man, and a 
leper. Brigit washed the feet of the four, and they were straight 
way healed from every disease that was on them. 

Once Brigit was in a house as a guest, and all went out, save a 
stripling of fourteen years. He had never spoken, nor moved foot 
or hand, and Brigit knew not that he was thus. So then came 
guests into the house to Brigit. Said Brigit to the stripling : " At 
tend on the guests." " I will do so," saith the stripling. He got 
up at once and did service to the guests, and he was quite whole 
thenceforward. 

Then there came to pass a meeting of the men of Ireland in 
Tailtin, 2 in the place where Patrick abode, with a synod of Ireland s 
clerics around him. Now Brigit and Bishop Me"! went to the meet 
ing, and a certain woman (also) went thither with a babe on her 
arm, and she said that the babe was by Bishop Bron. The Bishop, 
however, denied that. Brigit asked the woman by whom the child 
had been conceived, and told her not to utter a lie. And the 
woman answered: It is by Bishop Bn5n. Then a swelling 
straightway filled her tongue, so that she was unable to speak. 
Brigit made the sign of the cross over the infant s mouth and 
asked it : " Who is thy father ?" The infant answered and said : 
" A wretched man who is in the outskirts of the assembly, that 
is my father," saith he. So in that wise Bishop Br&lt;5n was saved 
through the grace of Brigit. 

Brigit went to converse with Patrick in Mag Lemne 3 while 
he was preaching the gospel. And Brigit fell asleep at the preach 
ing. Dixit Patrick : " Wherefore hast thou slept ?" Brigit bent 
her knees thrice and said : " I saw a vision," quoth she. Dixit 
Patrick : " Tell us the vision." " I saw," quoth she, " four ploughs 
in the south-east, and they ploughed the whole island, and before 
the sowing was finished the harvest grew up, and clear well- 
springs and shining streams came out of the furrows, and white 
garments were round the sowers and the ploughmen. I beheld 
four other ploughs in the north, and they ploughed the island 
athwart, and before the harvest came again, the oats which they 
had sown grew up at once and ripened, and black streams came 

1 A territory in Westmeath. * Now Teltown in Meath. 

3 Semite Magh-Leamhna of the Four Masters, " now the territory of 
Closach in Tyrone," O Don. 



Betha Brigtc, Lclar Brccc, p. 64*. 



tancatar sw/ha duba asnahetr/gib 7 etaige duba imnasiltaidib 1 7 im- 
nahairemnu. 7 bamtoirsech desin olbngif. 

Dixit patraic nabi itorsi uair ismaith inni atrhonarcais. 
NacetA/7 harathru toisechu at&lt;rh0narcais. mise sin 7 tussu silmait 
.iiii. libair intsos&lt;:e7a cosil irse 7 foisiten. INbuain tarfas duit 
inaires forphe innahdoine sin. Nacet^r/ harathair aile. nasaebfor- 
cetlaide 7 na brecaire sin. cuirfit darcend naforcetla silmait. ocus 
noco taircebumne sin. Bemitne messe 7 tussu argnuis induileman 
annsin. 



Luid brigit iarum codunlaing doguide dilsigthe dahathair 
inchlaideb dob&lt;?rt do diambdi indorus indiiine. Tanic din mog 
domogadaib inrig do acalkz /w brigte 7 ised atb^r/ fr/a. danamsser- 
thasu donfognum hitii ropadam crz!r/aide. 7 rofogenaind duitsiu 
f^n. Roraid brtgit wwdiugsa 2 sin forsinrig. Luid brigit iarum 
isindun 7 conzteig daascaid forsinrig. dilsiugud inclaideb dod3- 
thach 7 asaire don mogaid. atb^rt brigit fnsinrig madail duit eland 
tsainemail 7 rige dotmacaib 7 nem duit fen. tabair damsa nada 
itghe (wmaigimm. Aibert inrig iri brigit flaith nime orse uair nach 
facimm 7 nachfetar ciaret nichunchimm. Rige tra domomacu 
nichunchimm. uair nibeo fen foraird. 7 gniad each aaimsir. Tabair 
dam fot saegail irrige 7 each buaid fn hu neill. uair ism^wicc coccad 
etraind. 7 tabair dam coscar isin cetchath corbamcreitmech isna- 
cathaib aileib. 7 ised on rocomailk/ hi cath lochair fn a h neill. 



Fecht ann tanic ri laigen doestecht frzpr&lt;?cept. 7 celebrad dia 
case docum brig/e. iarforba uird inchelebartha. luid ass inrig for 
Sd/. dochoid bn^-// dopra md. Asb^rt lomman clam br/ g/e nato- 
melad ni cotuctha do armgaisc#/ rig laigen eti r goei 7 o\aideb ocus 
sciath. corumb^rtaiged foi. Luid techtaire obn git indegaid inrig. 
Omedon lai cunowa donrig fonmmachor. 7 niroacht cid mile 
cemend cotucad intarmgaisced uad. 7 ft?tardad donchlam. 



Fecht and do epscop ercc 7 do brigit itir laigen. Atbertsi iri 
hrpscop ercc. ata cath etzr dothuaithsiu innossa 7 acomaithgiu. 
dixit marclerech domuntir epscuip ercc. Ni doig leind orse armad 
firsin. Senais brigit aroisc inm^clerig. Asb^-rt in macclerech 



1 Facs. imnasiltaigib 7 imnasiltaigib. 



dot over d. 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 71 

out of the furrows, and black garments were on the sowers and 
on the ploughmen. And I am sorrowful thereat," quoth Brigit. 

Dixit Patrick : " Be not in sadness, for good is that which thou 
beheldest. The first four ploughs which thou beheldest, those are 
I and thou. We sow the four books of the gospel with seed of 
faith and confession. The harvest which appeared to thee, that 
is the perfect faith of those men-folk* The four other ploughs, 
those are the false teachers and the liars, and they will overturn 
the teachings that we sow, and those we shall not uplift. But we, 
I and thou, shall then be in the presence of the Creator." 

Then Brigit went to Dunlaing to ask him to forfeit to her 
father the sword which he had given to him while he was in the 
door-way of the fortress. Then a slave of the slaves of the King 
came to speak with Brigit and said to her : " If thou wouldst save 
me from the servitude wherein I am, I would become a Christian, 
and I would serve thee thyself." Brigit said : " I will ask that of 
the King." So Brigit went into the fortress and asked her two 
boons of the King the forfeiture of the sword to Dubthach, and 
his freedom for the slave. Said Brigit to the King ; " If thou 
desirest excellent children and a kingdom for thy sons and Heaven 
for thyself, give me the two boons that I ask." Said the King to 
Brigit : " The kingdom of Heaven, as I see it not, and as no one 
knows what thing it is, I seek not, and a kingdom for my sons I 
seek not, for I shall not myself be extant, and let each one serve 
his time. But give me length of life in my kingdom and victory 
always over the Hui N&ll, for there is often warfare between us. 
And give me victory in the first battle, so that I may be trustful 
in the other fights." And this was fulfilled in the battle of Lochar, 
(which he fought) against the Hui Neill. 

Once upon a time the King of Leinster came unto Brigit to 
listen to preaching and celebration at Easter-day. After the end 
ing of the form of celebration, the King fared forth on his way 
and Brigit went to refection. Lomman, Brigit s leper, said he 
would eat nothing until the weapons of the King of Leinster 

were given to him both spears and sword and shield 

A messenger went from Brigit after the King. From mid- day to 

evening a thousand paces until the weapons were given 

by him, and bestowed on the leper. 

Once upon a time Bishop Ercc and Brigit were in the land of 
Leinster. She said to Bishop Ercc : " There is at present a battle 
between thy tribe and its neighbours." Dixit a student of Bishop 
Ercc s family : " We think not," saith he, " that that is true." Brigit 



72 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 64*, 64*. 



atciusa mobrathre icommarbad innossa. Dorigne at^r/ge moir 
iarum inmacclerech. 

[p. 64 b line 7] Fecht and tanic araile clam cobrigit dochunchid 
bo. Dixit brigt f frz s. Cia de isferr lett. bd dobreith no thicc don- 
chlaime. Albert inclam baferr lais afcc diachlaime oltas rigi induli 
domain do. Arisrig CQch slan olse. Dorigne ira brigif ernaigthi 
fn dia corohfctha inclam 7 corfhdgain do \&gt;rigit iarsin. 



Odachuaid tra clii brigte foeiri# uli ifertaib 7 imirbuilib. 
tancatar dadhall dobretnaib. 7 mac bee clam leo dianicc ccforigit. 
7 dochuatar amunigin epscutp mel immanicc. Albert \irigit biat 
amuig coleic coroisc (?) incelebnzd. Atb^rtsat nabretnaig aris 
d&lt;?inmmnetach innaddinesin. rohiccais doine dotchen^l fen inde. 
cenconicca sinde indiu. Dorigne \&gt;rigit ernaigthi 7 rohictha atrz ur 
focMoir. 

Ised dochuaid brigit iarsin owahdgaib do ardachad epscmp 
me*!. Bdi rig tethba icomfocus ddib icfleid. Bdi lestar ciimdachta 
d ilgemaib illaim inrig. gabais araile fer anfaitech asalaim condor- 
chair 7 &lt;:^d&lt;?rna bloga de. rohergabad infersin lasinrig. dochuaid 
eps^op mel dia chunchid 7 ni e"tas onrig. achi abas, doattaig 
immurro epscop mel cotuctha dd inlester briste onrig. 7 techtais 
iarsin 7 rue lais czmrVtech amboi brigit. Dorigne brigit ernaigthe 
fr/ sincoimdid coroathnuged inlester icruth budfearr. Ruc ad iarsin 
donrig 7 rotuaslaiced incimbid. dixit epscop mel. niformsa dosgnf 
dia infirtsa. acht i 



dochuaid brigif dofhorruma araile dige .i. brigit 
ingen &lt;r^ghaile dognid ferta hile. 7 intan batar icpraind .i. brigit 
c^wahdgaib rothairis brigt t immedon naprainde. 7 dixit fmraile 
ndig. tabair croiss cm/ tar hagaid 7 tar dhoshiiilib cofhaiceraso. 
anatciusa, widannsin itch&lt;?nairc indg insattan itoeb nam^si ocus 
achend sis 7 achossa suas. ade" 7 alassar asacraess 7 asasronaib 
sechtair. dixit brigtt frz sindemon conus freccrad df. 



1 Facs. demnaib. 



On Ike Life of St. Brigit. 73 

sained the student s eyes. Said the student : " I see my brothers 
a-slaughtering now." Then the student repented greatly. 

Once upon a time a certain leper came to Brigit to ask for a 
cow. Dixit Brigit to him : " Which wouldst thou prefer, to carry 
off a cow or to be healed of the leprosy ?" The leper said, that he 
would rather be healed of his leprosy than have the kingdom of all 
the world, for every sound man is a king, saith he. Then 
Brigit made prayer to God and the leper was healed and served 
Brigit afterwards. 

Now, when Brigit s fame in miracles and marvels had travelled 
throughout all Ireland, there came unto Brigit for their healing 
two blind men from Britain, and a little leper boy with them, 
and they put trust in Bishop Me"! to get them healed. Said 
Brigit : "Let them stay outside just now till mass is over." Said 
the Britons (for those people are impatient), " Thou healedst folk 
of thy own race yesterday, though thou healest not us to-day." 
Brigit made prayer and the three were healed at once. 

Brigit went afterwards with her virgins to Ardachad 1 of 
Bishop Mel. The king of Teffia was at a feast near them. 
There was a vessel covered with many gems in the king s hand. 
And a certain careless man took it out of his hand, and it fell 
and broke into pieces. That man was seized by the king. 
Bishop Mel went to ask for him, but nothing could be got from 
the king save his death. However, Bishop Ml asked that the 
broken vessel might be given to him by the king, and then he 
had it and took it with him to the house wherein was Brigit. And 
Brigit made prayer to the Lord, and the vessel was restored in a 
form that was better than before, and then it was taken to the 
king, and the captive was loosed. And Bishop Me"l. said : " Not 
for me hath God wrought this miracle, but for Brigit."" 

Once upon a time Brigit went to watch over a certain virgin, 
namely, Brigit, the daughter of Congaile, who used to work 
many miracles. And when Brigit and her virgins were at dinner, 
Brigit paused in the middle of the meal, and she said to a certain 
virgin : " Make thou Christ s cross over thy face and over thine 
eyes that thou mayest see what I see." So then the virgin 
beheld Satan beside the table with his head down and his feet 
up, his smoke and his flame out of his gullet and out of his 
nostrils. Said Brigit to the demon that he should answer her : 



Now Ardagh in Teathbha. 



74 Bet ha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 64^ 65*. 

Nichiimcaim achaillech centacallfl/w. uair coimetai tfmna d. 
7 atogaillse 1 fnabochtaib 7 fm mwwtir nde. 

INdis duinn ol brigtf cid arnercotige inbtfrndenmaib don- 
chiniud doenna. 

dixit demon, conaroissed inchiniud orse dochum parduis. 

dixit brfgif fn a demon, cid diatanacaise chucainde inar- 
c&illechu. 

araile 6*g craibdech fil sund ordemon. 7 isnacomitecht atiisa. 

dixit brigtf fr/sinoig. tabair cross cmt dar do siiilib. 7 itcon- 
nairc indg foc^/oir intorathor grana hisin. 7 rogab oman mor 
inog otth^nairc indemon. 

Cid foranimgaibe Q\bngit indalta ocatai lessugud triri ciana. 

don gne inog athrige iarsin. 7 rohictha dondemon crais ocus 
etraid boi inacomitecht. 

Fecht and doluid brigif dartethba 7 sloig mora innacomi- 
techt. Batar dachlam inandiaid. dorigenset debaid forsin set. 
INti tuarcaib dib alaim artiis. seccaid inlaim. roshecc din lam 
inchlaim aile. Dorigenset iarsin athrige. 7 rosicc bngit iatsin 
diaclaime. 

Fecht do brigit conz hogaib inard macha. dolluid dias secca 
7 dr&lt;?lmach usce forru. Tancatar dob&lt;?nachad dobrtgtf. dorochair 
indrolmach dian^isi. 7 dochuaid druimm dar driiim otha dorus 
ratha co loch lapan 7 nirobris 7 ni torcha/r banda esti. Basuach- 
nid lecach ba b&lt;?nachtu brig/elforuair iarsin. patricius dixit. fodlaid 
in usce foard macha. 7 foairtheru. rofodlad iarww 7 rohicc cock 
ngalar 7 cech nances bdi isintfr. 



Luid brigz f icrich fer ross dothuaslucud chimmedabai [p. 65 a ] 
illaim ocrig fer ross. Dixit brigt t insaerfa damsa incimmid lit. 
Albert inrig. Cia dotvrthasu damsa orse n ge fer mbreg. nithibrind 
duit he. acht nadigsiu foera orinrig doberthar aanimmcomdtj 
oen6idche fortsu do. Roartraig din brigit diulai donchimmid. 



Read at togaillse ? 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 75 

" I cannot, O nun, be without conversing with thee, for thou keepest 
God s commandments and thou art .... to God s poor and to 
His family." 

" Tell us," saith Brigit, " why thou art hurtful in thy deeds 
to the human race ?" 

Said the demon : " That the race may not attain unto Pa 
radise." 

Said Brigit to the demon : " Wherefore hast thou come to us 
among our nuns ?" 

" A certain pious virgin is here," saith the demon, " and in 
her company am I." 

Said Brigit to the virgin: "Put Christ s cross over thine 
eyes." And the virgin beheld at once the hideous monster there, 
and great fear seized the virgin when she beheld the demon. 

" Wherefore shunnest thou," saith Brigit, " the fosterling 
whom thou hast been cherishing (?) for long seasons ?" 

Then the virgin repented, and she was healed of the devil 
of gluttony and lust that had dwelt in her company. 

Once upon a time Brigit went over Teffia, and there were 
great hosts along with her. There were two lepers behind them, 
who quarrelled on the road. The hand of him that first raised 
his hand withers, and then the hand of the other leper withered. 
Thereafter they repented and Brigit cured them of their leprosy. 

Once upon a time Brigit, with her virgins, was at Armagh, 
and two went by her bearing a tub of water. They came to 
Brigit to be blessed, and the tub fell behind them and went back 
over back from the door of the Rath as far as Loch Lapan. And 
it brake not, and not a drop fell thereout. It was well known to 
every one that Brigit s blessing had caused this, and Patrick 
said : " Deal ye the water throughout Armagh and Airthir." So 
it was dealt, and it cured every disease and every anguish that 
was in the land. 

Brigit went into the province of Fir Ross 1 to loosen a captive 
who was in manu with the King of Fir Ross. Said Brigit : " Wilt 
thou set that captive free for me ?" The King replied : " Though 
thou shouldst give me the realm of the men of Breg, I would not 
give him to thee. But go not with a refusal," saith the King. 
" For one night thou shalt have the right to guard his life for 
him." Then Brigit appeared at the close of day to the captive 

1 in the south of Oirghialla in Ulster. 



76 Bet ha Brigte, Lebar Brecc, p. 65*. 

7 atb&lt;?rt fhs intan tuaslaicfith&lt;?r inslabrad ditt. geib indimunnsa 
nunc populus l 7 e*la fortlaim ndeiss. Dognith^r amlaid. 7 elaid 
incimbid labr^ir mbrzg/e. 

Fecht tanic brigit tarsliab breg inaraile laithe. Boi dasachtach 
isintsleib. noaircead nacuitechta. Rosgab uamun mor nahdga 
batar ifail brig/e ofcwmcatar indasachtach. dixit brigt f fr/sindem- 
nach. uair doratla and prztcha biethir hd6 dun. Nichumcaim orse 
cenumaloit duit. arisittrocair fnmwwtir inchoimded .i. fina bochtaib 
7 frAr6gaib. isandsin atb^rt indasachtach. airmitnigid incoimdid 
achaillech 2 7 notairmitnigfe each, car incoimdid 7 notcarfa each, 
aigthi incoimdid 7 notaigthife each. Luid iarum indasachtach 
uadib 7 nid^rna ndch nerchoit doib. 



Fecht dobngtf ocimddcht amuig laigen cofacca mac legind 
inarith secci .i. ninnid scolaige. 

Cid dogni aforusta olbrigtt 7 cid the*gi colluath. 

dochum nime arinscolaige. 

rofit/r mac nahingeni olbrigtt duthracursa dul lett. 

dixit inscolaige. A chaillech orse nachumtoirmisc domshet. no 
mascwwthoirmes duit guid incoimdid lem corupsoraid damsa techt 
dochum nime. 7 guidfetsu dia letsu corub reid duit. 7 coruca 
hilmile let documm nime. 

gabais brigtt pater leis. 7 bacraibthech osin immach. 7 atb^rt 
brigit nabiad riag no pian fair. 7 ise dorat comaind 7 sacrapaic 
iartain dobrigtf. 

Luid brigit cobepscop hibair. corothoirned acat^raig di con- 
dechsat 3 iarsin co dii hita cell dara indiu. Bahi sin re" 7 inbuid 
dorala ailill mac dunlainge 7 cet marclach do findchselach leis 
tr/alar chille dara. Tancatar daingin obrigz / amach dochunchid 
neich donaslataib. 7 tucad e&gt;a form. Rofailgide foc^//oir innahuli 



1 in the MS. these two words occur at the beginning of line 5, immediately 
before Roartraig. 

2 MS. achaillechu. 

3 dot over d. 






On the Life of St. Brigit. 77 

and said to him : " When the chain shall be opened for thee 
repeat this hymn, Nunc populus, and turn to thy right hand and 
flee." Thus it is done, and the captive flees at the word of Brigit. 

Brigit one day came over Sliab Breg. 1 There was a mad 
man on the mountain who used to be destroying the companies. 
Great fear seized the virgins who were near Brigit, when they saw 
the madman. Said Brigit to the demoniac : " Since thou hast 
gone there, preach the word of God to us." " I cannot," he saith, 
" be ungentle to thee, for thou art merciful to the Lord s family, to 
wit, to the poor and to the wretched." So then said the madman : 
" Reverence the LORD, O nun, and every one will reverence 
thee ; love the LORD, and every one will love thee ; fear the LORD, 
and every one will fear thee !" Then the madman went from them 
and did no hurt to them. 

Brigit was once journeying in Mag Laigen, 8 and she saw 
running past her a student, 3 namely, Ninnid the scholar. 

" What art thou doing, O Sage 1" saith Brigit, " and whither 
art thou wending (so) quickly?" 

" To heaven," saith the scholar. 

"The Son of the Virgin knoweth," saith Brigit, "that I 
would fain fare with thee !" 

Dixit the scholar : " O nun," saith he, " hinder me not from 
my road ; or, if thou hinderest, beseech the Lord with me that 
the journey to heaven may be happy, and I will beseech God 
with thee that it may be easy for thee, and that thou mayst bring 
many thousands with thee to heaven." 

Brigit repeated a Paternoster with him, and he was pious 
thenceforward ; and Brigit said that neither gallows nor punish 
ment would be for him ; and he it is that afterwards administered 
communion and sacrifice to Brigit. 4 

Brigit went to Bishop Ibair that he might mark out her city 
for her. So they came thereafter to the place where Kildare is 
to-day. That was the season and the time that Ailill son of Dun- 
laing, 5 with a hundred horse-loads of peeled rods, chanced to be 
going through the ground of Kildare. Two girls came from 
Brigit to ask for some of the rods, and they got a refusal. Forth 
with all the horses were struck down under their loads against 

1 in the County of Louth. 
s the plain of Leinster. 

3 lit. a son of reading. 

4 Ninnid Lam-idan, Todd Lib. Hymn, i. 
8 Four Masters, A. D. 489. 



78 Betha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, pp. 65% 65 b . 

ech foamarclaigib fmlar. Rogabtha siiind 7 slipre doib. 7 nf er- 
rachtatar corosidpair ailill mac dunlaing ince /marclach sin dobrigit 
comd desin dorigned tech sancbrig/e hicill dara. 

ISandsin atfort brigit 

Odur eccur mothech 

marroferthar adulguine 

rope* flaith laigen cobrdih 

oai/z ll mac dunlainge. 

Tan and tancatar dachlam dochuinchid almsaine cobrigif. 
N(i)bdi araill isincoitchend acht oenbd. Dorat ira brigit dona- 
clamu inoenboin. Dorigne indaraclam atlugud budi dodia arinm- 
boin. Dimmdach immurro inclam aile. uair badiumsach. 

Dochuaid orse cid mairesi moenar imm boin. Onice indiu 
din orse* achaillecha nirocomairemsa riam etzr chelib d6 7 et/ir 
bochtaib 7 lobraib 7 nibeomm din icummaid immoenboin. 

dixit brigit fn sinclam numal. ansu ifoss dus intibre dia nf 
isincoitchend 7 teit ass inclam diumsach lit conabo m. isandsin tanic 
araile tuata combo m leis dobrigi/. Dorat immurro brigit inmboinsin 
donchlam umal. Odochuaid for set inclam diumsach. foremdid 
immain ab6 aoenur. cotanic iterum forciila ctibrigit 7 dochumm 
afir chummtha comboi i[c]glamud 7 icimmdergud mbrig/e. Nf 
ardia orse doratais tidpairt. acht isarlisdatwj 7 tromdatwj rotgab 
fh msa. 



Tiagait diblinaib nadachlam dochumm naberba iarsin. atraig 
inabaind frm. ^laid inclam umal r^aboin triabennachtam mbrig/e. 
Dofuit immurro isinsruth inclam diumsach 7 abo foathairr coros- 
baided. 

Fecht ann tanic rigan cremthain m^ c enna cheindsek?^ [p. 
65 b .] .i. rigan laigen. 7 slabrad argait lea dobrigit anfdpairt. Fuath 
delbi duine isindar[a]cind de. 7 uball argait forsin cind aile. Dorat 
\&gt;rigit donahdgaib. corothaisciset he cenfis dobrigit. uair bamor 
nogata brigit acrod 7 dosb^red dobochtaib. Araide tanic clam 
cobrigit corotriall brigit inslabrad cenfis donahdgaib 7 cotarut do. 
Orw-yfetatar nahdga is#/ atb^rtsat cofergluinde moir 7 cofuasnaid. 
Becc domaith diin dothr&lt;5cairesiu fn cach olsiat. 7 sind fen ic rich- 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 79 

the ground. Stakes and wattles were taken from them, and they 
arose not until Ailill son of Dunlaing had offered unto Brigit 
those hundred horse-loads ; and thereout was built Brigit s house 
in Kildare. 

Then said Brigit 

my house 



Let the kingship of Leinster for ever be 
From Ailill son of Dunlaing. 

On a time came two lepers unto Brigit to ask an alms. 
Nought else was in the kitchen save a single cow. So Brigit 
gave the single cow to the lepers. One of the two lepers gave 
thanks unto God for the cow. But the other leper was displeased, 
for he was haughty. " I alone," saith he, " have been set at nought 
with a cow ! Till to-day," saith he, " O ye nuns, I have never 
been counted among Culdees and amongst the poor and feeble, 
and I am not to be slighted with a single cow." Said Brigit to 
the lowly leper : " Stay thou here to see whether God will put 
anything into the kitchen, and let that haughty leper fare forth 
with his cow." Then came a certain heathen having a cow for 
Brigit. So Brigit gave that cow to the lowly leper. And when 
the haughty leper went on his way he was unable to drive his cow 
alone, so he came back again to Brigit and to his comrade, and 
was reviling and blaming Brigit. " Not for God s sake," saith 
he, " bestowedst thou thine offering, but for mischief and oppres 
siveness thou gavest to me." 

Thereafter the two lepers come to the Barrow. The river 
riseth against them. Through Brigit s blessing the lowly leper 
escapes with his cow. But the haughty leper and his cow fell 
into the stream, and went to the bottom, and were drowned. 

Once upon a time the Queen of Cremthan, 1 son of Ennae 
Cennselach, came and brought a chain of silver to Brigit as an 
offering. The semblance of a human shape was at one of its ends, 
and an apple of silver on the other end. Brigit gave it to her vir 
gins ; they stored it up without her knowledge, for greatly used Brigit 
to take her wealth and give it to the poor. Nevertheless, a leper 
came to Brigit, and without her virgins knowledge, she went to 
the chain and gave it unto him. When the virgins knew this, 
they said, with much angry bitterness and wrath, "Little good 
have we ffom thy compassion to every one," say they, " and we 
ourselves in need of food and raiment." " Ye are sinning," saith 

1 Slain A. D. 465, Four Masters. 



8o Bet ha Brigte , Lebar Brecc, p. 6f. 

tain lessa biid 7 etaig. Atathai forandagud aibrigrt ercid isineckw. 
baili indenaim ernaigthi. fogebthai and barslabrad. Dochuatar 
labr///$ir mbrig/e. acht cia doratad donbo[c]ht fuaratar nahoga 
andsin aslabrad. 

Fecht ann itchonnairc brigit fer cosalond foramuin. cid fil 
fordamuin olbrigif. Clocha orinfer. Bidatclocha din oVorigit.ocus 
daronait clocha dontsalond. Tic doridise infer ctf/na co (no sech) 
bn gti. Cid fil fordamuin olbrigif. salond arinfer. Bid salond din 
olbrigit. dorigne[d] salond de doridisi tr/a br/Mir mbrig/e. 



Fecht ann tancatar dachlam dianicc cobrigti. dixit brigit 
frisindaraclam. nige araile. dorigned amlaid. 7 bahogslan foc/ze/oir. 
dixit \&gt;rigit fhsinclam slan. dena fr/sinclam naile osaic 7 nige 
thfir chumtha. arm?/ dorignesium umaloit duitsiu. Acht inned 
tt?rancwar orse nichomricfem. uair incoir letsu achaillech orse. 
misse slan ^^ballaib niiib. 7 cometach nuaglan donige inchlaim 
granai u[c]ut. 7 abaill dubglassa ictuitimm de. Ronig tmmurro 
\&gt;rigit fen inclam nwwall trog. INclam diumsach roniged ann 
fortus. ised atb^rt ann darliumm orse isaible tened moidit trem- 
chroicend. ddniu raid immurro lobenadsum foc^eVoir dchlami 
oniullach achiVfr/ comcQ abonnaigib foraanumaloit dobrigtf. 



Fecht naill dobrigif ictecht dolaim in epscmp cotarfas di cend 
buicc isincailech affrmd. Rooipdester brigit incailech "affrind. 
Cid orinfer graid aranoipdi. mnse isaire opdim olbrigit. Cend buicc 
olsi nomtadbanar isincailech zffrind. Dorogart intepscop ingilla tuc 
animaltoir. tabair dochoibsena agilla onntepscop. isinmatain indiu 
oringilla dochuadw^ iteach nangabur cotallus bocc meath ass. ocus 
conduzdus afeoil. rophewd ingilla 7 dorigne athr/ge. Dochuaid 
brigit iarsin dolaim. 7 nifacoz infuath. 



ann tancater .uff. nepscmp cobrigtf 7 ni boi aiccesi 
n( dob^rad doib. iarmblegan namb6 fatAn . robliged tra doridise. 
naba intresfecht. 7 bahuilli inas cech blegun. 

Feet ann din rogab mian araile caillech domwtir brig/e 
immsalond. dorigne brtgti ernaigthe coroshai incloich boi inna- 
fhiadflje isalond 7 corohiccad inchailkfA iarsin. 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 81 



Brigit : " Go ye into the church : the place wherein I make prayer, 
there will ye find your chain." They went at Brigit s word. 
But, though it had been given to the poor man, the virgins found 
their chain therein. 

Once upon a time Brigit beheld a man with salt on his back. 
" What is that on thy back ?" saith Brigit : " Stones," saith the 
man. " Let them be stones then," saith Brigit, and of the salt 
stones were made. The same man again cometh to (or past) 
Brigit. " What is that on thy back ?" saith Brigit : " Salt," saith 
the man. " It shall be salt then," saith Brigit. Salt was made 
again thereof through Brigit s word. 

On a time came two lepers unto Brigit to be healed. Said 
Brigit to one of the two lepers : " Wash thou the other." Thus was 
it done, and he was quite sound forthwith. Said Brigit to the sound 
leper : " Bathe and wash thy comrade even as he did service unto 
thee." " Besides the time that we have [already] come together," 
says he, " we will never come together, for it is not fair for thee, 
O nun, (to expect) me, a sound man with fresh limbs and fresh 
clean raiment, to wash that loathsome leper there, with his livid 
limbs falling out of him." However, Brigit herself washed the 
poor, lowly leper. The haughty leper who had been washen first, 
then spake, " Meseems," saith he, " that sparks of fire are break 
ing through my skin." Swifter than speech he was straightway 
smitten with leprosy from the crown of his head to his soles, 
because of his disobedience to Brigit. 

Another time as Brigit was going to confess to the bishop 
there was shewn to her a he-goat s head in the mass-chalice. Brigit 
refused the chalice. " Why," saith the ecclesiastic, " dost thou 
refuse it ?" " Not hard to say," saith Brigit, " this is why I 
refuse : the head of a he-goat is shewn unto me in the chalice." 
The bishop called the gillie who brought the imaltoir (credence- 
table ?) " Make thy confessions, O gillie," saith the bishop. 
" This very morning," saith the gillie, " I went to the goat-house, 
and took thereout a fat he-goat, and his flesh I ate." The gillie 
did penance and repented. Brigit thereafter went to confession, 
and saw not the semblance. 

Once upon a time came seven bishops to Brigit, and she had 
nought to give them after milking the cows thrice. So the cows 
were milked again the third time, and it was greater than any 
milking. 

Once upon a time a certain nun of Brigit s family took a 
longing for salt. Brigit made prayer, and the stone before her 
she turned into salt, and then the nun was cured. 



82 Betha Brigte, Lel-ar Brecc, pp. 65*, 66*. 



Fecht ann din boi bachtarA domw/rtir brig/e ocbein chonnaid. 
Dorala do coromarb petta sindaig larig laigen. rdhergab&lt;&/ inbach- 
lach lasinrig. roforcongart brigit forsinnach nallaid taidech: 
caillid. tanic din comboi occlesrad 7 ocespai donaslogaib 7 donrig 
l&forcongra mbrig/e. Oraforba immurro insindach agnimrad 
dolluid slan foncaillid 7 sloig laigen et/r chois 7 ech 7 choin 
innadegaid. 

Bado fertaib brigte .i. methel mor boi aicce ocbuain. snigis 
fleochad amuig life. 7 nocorfer banne inagortsi tr/a ernaigthi 
mbrig/e. 

Ba do fertaib brigte. tvnachais inclarenech comba. slana 
adasiiil. 

Ba do f&lt;?rtaib \&gt;rigfe. tallsat merlig adamu. tuarcaib abann liphe 
fr/u. tancatar nadoim itech iaraabarach 7 etaige namerlech f&lt;?rana- 
darcaib. 

Ba do fertaib brigte. diatarla si cwjinmbandtrebthaig .i. co [p. 
66*] lassair amuig chail. corusmarb loeg abo dobrigit 7 coroloisc 
agarmain foi. Dorigne dia forbrigtf c&lt;7/nbahogslan inngarmain 
iarnabarach. 7 boi inloeg immalle 



Fecht and tanic brenaind ahiarthar erenn dosaigthin 

liphfe. uair bamachtad lais inclu boi forbrigi/ ifertaib ocus 
immirbulib. Teit brigit onacaerchuib dofailte fr/ brenaind. 
tanic brigit isintech. focerd acochall flinch forbunnsachaib n 
7 forailangaUzr am&lt;z/ drolu. dixit brenaind fmgilla achocholl dochor 
forsnabunnsacha;^ c^na. 7 focerd ingilla form cotorch&lt;7/r dib fado. 
Focerd brenaind fen intres fecht lafeirg 7 londj cotarrasair inco- 
choll form. 

Cotarat each dib achobas diaraile. Dixit brenaind nirbognath 
modul tar secht nimarib cen mo nvwmain india. Dixit brigit 
O doratwj mo m&lt;rmnain oenfecht inndia. nithucwj ass et/r. 



Diamboi brigif ocingaire chaerech. tanic gataige chuicce. oetis 
tall sfcht mulm uathi. iaraahatuch fortus. araide orohairmed intret. 
foiitha doridisi namuilt t/va eraaigthi mbrig/e. 



0/7 the Life of St. D 83 

Once upon a time a bondsman of Brigifs family was cutting 
firewood. It came to pass that he killed a pet fox of the King of 
The bondsman was seized by the King. Brigit ordered 
a wild fox to come out of the wood. So he came and was playing 
and sporting for the hosts and the King at Brigit s order. But 
when the fox had finished his feats he went safe back through 
the wood, with the hosts of Leinster behind him, both foot and 
horse and hound. 

(This) was (one) of Brigit s miracles. She had a great 
band of reapers a-reaping. A rain-storm poured on the plain of 
Liffey. but. through Brigit s prayer, not a drop fell on her field. 

(This) was (one) of Brigit s miracles. She blessed the table- 
faced man, so that his two eyes were whole. 

;is) was (one) of Brigit s miracles. Robbers stole her 
oxen. The river Liffey rose against them. The oxen came home 
on the morrow with the robbers clothes on their horns. 

.is) was (one) of Brigit s miracles. When she came to 
the widow Lassair on Mag Coel, and Lassair killed her cow s calf 
for Brigit and burnt the beam of her loom thereunder, God so 

_-ht for Brigit that the beam was whole on the morrow and 
the calf was along with its mother. 

Once upon a time Brenainn 1 came from the west of Ireland 
to Brigit, to the plain of Liffey. For he wondered at the fame 
that Brigit had in miracles and marvels. Brigit came from her 
sheep to welcome Brenainn. As Brigit entered the house she put 
her wet cloak on the rays of the sun, and they supported it like 
pot-hooks. Brenainn told his gillie to put his cloak on the same 
rays, and the gillie put it on them, but it fell from them twice. 
Brenainn himself put it, the third time, with anger and wrath, and 
the cloak staid upon them. 

Each of them confessed to the other. Said Erenainn : -X. 
usual is it for me to go over seven ridges without (giving) my 
mind to God." Said Brigit : " Since I first gave my mind to God. 
I never took it from Him at all." 3 

While Brigit was herding sheep, there came a thief unto her 
and stole seven wethers from her, after having first besought her 
(for them). Nevertheless, when the flock was counted the wethers 
were found again (therein) through Brigit s prayer. 

1 Abbot and Bishop of Clonfert, died 576. 

* So in Lib. Hymn, 16 b., Goidelka, 2nd edition, p. 134. 



84 Bethu Brigte, Lcbur Brecc, p. 66 a . 

Tan and dorigne araile fer domtir brig/e mid dorfg laigen. 
intan ioiacht inrig diachaithem. nifhtti bande de. uair tuc "brigtt 
dob[o]chtaib inmid uli. Atracht brigti foc^e/oir dothesorcain 
intsloig. corobranach innalestra 7 roptar lana focMoir domid 
thogaide. Ar cech ni conaitched \&gt;rigit forsin coimdid dob&lt;?rthea 
di focheloir. uair bahe asaint. sassad bocht. dichor ce^a docc#/wla. 
airchisecht cet^a trogi. 

Mor tra dofertaib 7 domirbulib fonindussin dorinde incoimdiu 
fornoembrigz /. ise aairet &lt;wzachcumaing nech anindise. acht mine 
thisad aspiri// fadessin. no aingel de donim dianindisi. 

Niroibe tra nech ba nairiu. nabafe"li indas innoemogsin, Ni- 
ronigestar riam alama nach acossa na^acend eter feraib. Nirod- 
fech din riam innguis 1 ferscali. Nirolabra et/r cenlossi di. 
Bahaintech. bahendac. bahernedach. bafoitnech. bafalid itimnaib 
de. bacobsaid. bahuma/. badilgedach deshercach. bacomra coise- 
cartha coimeta chuirp cmt. batempol de. barigsuide tairisme 
dospir^/ noem acr?de 7 am^wma. badiuit fn dia. batorsech dothrd^ 
gaib. bahetrocht hifertaib. ISairesin is^ asam&lt;7/7 et/ r dulib. colum 
et?r enaib. finemain et/r fedaib. gr/an uasrennaib. 



IShe ahathair nanoemoigesi. intatha/r nemda. ise am^c isu 
crt st. ise ahaite inspirut noem. &lt;wzidairesin dogni innoemogsa na 
mirbuli mora diairmidesi. 

IShi fortoc/fc/aigess dacer^oen bis hicwwca 7 inguasacht. isf 
Iraethus natedmanna. isi thoirnes tonngar 7 ferg rnmara moir. isi 
seo bantairng&lt;?rtaig crist. isi rigan indeisa rt. isi muire nan- 
goedel, 

Othanic tra c^nadedenchu dobrigit iarfothugad chell ocus 
chon[g]bal nimda. iarfcrtaib 7 adamraib atta h n gainem mara. no 
rendai nime. iarndeirc 7 iartrocaire. Arroet commaind 7 sacar- 
baicc oninded lamidan. iartiachtain do ho roim letha. 7 rofdi 



1 leg. ingnuis. 



On. the Life of St. Brigit. 85 



A certain man of Brigit s family once made (some) mead for 
the King of Leinster. When the King came to consume it, not 
a drop thereof was found, for Brigit had given all the mead to 
the poor. Brigit at once rose up to protect the host, and blessed 
the vessels, and they were at once full of choice mead. For every 
thing which Brigit used to ask of the Lord used to be given to 
her at once. For this was her desire : to feed the poor, to repel 
every hardship, to be gentle to every misery. 

Many miracles and marvels in that wise the Lord wrought for 
Saint Brigit. Such is their number that no one could relate them 
unless her own spirit, or an angel of God, should come from 
heaven to relate them. 

Now there never hath been any one more bashful or more 
modest than that holy virgin. She never washed her hands, or her 
feet, or her head, amongst men. She never looked into a male 
person s face. She never spoke without blushing. She was absti 
nent, innocent, liberal, patient. She was joyous in God s com 
mandments, steadfast, lowly, forgiving, charitable. She was a 
consecrated vessel for keeping Christ s Body. She was a temple 
of God. Her heart and her mind were a throne of rest for the 
Holy Ghost. Towards God she was simple : towards the wretched 
she was compassionate : in miracles she was splendid. There 
fore her type among created things is the Dove among birds, the 
Vine among trees, the Sun above stars. 

This is the father of this holy virgin the Heavenly Father. 
This is her son Jesus Christ. This is her fosterer the Holy 
Ghost : and thence it is that this holy virgin wrought these great 
innumerable marvels. 

She it is that helpeth every one who is in straits and in 
danger. She it is that abateth the pestilences. She it is that 
quelleth the wave-voice and the wrath of the great sea. This is 
the prophesied woman of Christ. She is the Queen of the South. 1 
She is the Mary of the Gael. 

Now when Brigit came to the ending-days, after founding 
churches and churchbuildings in plenty, after miracles and won 
drous deeds in number (like) sand of sea or stars of heaven, after 
charity and mercy, she received communion and sacrifice from 
Ninnid the Pure-handed, 2 when he had returned from Rome of 

1 Matthew, xii. 42. Luke, xi. 31. 

2 Son of Echaid, Abbot of Inis-maige-sam (now Inismacsaint), an island in 
Lough Erne. Hearing Brigit prophesy that from his hand she should receive 
the viaticum on the day of her death, he enclosed it in a case of brass and kept 
the case continually locked, lest the hand should ever be denied. Hence the name 
Lum-glan or Ldm-idun. Todd, Book of Hymns, 60, 61. 



86 Betha Brigte, Lelar Brecc, p. 66 a . 



aspir/ dochumm nime iarsin. Atat immurro atassi 7 arelgi isna- 
talm&lt;2daib cocadus mor. tw/ordan 7 conairechus. cofertaib ocus 
comfrbulib. Ata ahanimm am&lt;z/ gre in isinchathraig nemda etz r 
classaib aingel 7 archaingel inoentaid iruphin 7 saraphin inoentaid 1 
mete mm re .i. insentaid nanaemtrzhoite uaisle uile athar 7 mic ocus 
spiral noib. 

Ailim troccaire inchoimdead tria impide noembrigde coris- 
sam innaentaidsin insaecula sseculorum. Amen.,. 

1 MS. inaentaig. 



On the Life of St. Brigit. 87 



Latium, and sent her spirit thereafter to heaven. But her remains 
.and her relics are on earth with great honour and with primacy 
and pre-eminence, with miracles and marvels. Her soul is like 
the sun in the heavenly City among quires of angels and arch 
angels, in union with cherubim and seraphim, in union with 
Mary s Son, to wit, in the union with all the Holy Trinity, Father 
and Son and Holy Ghost. 

I beseech the Lord s mercy, through Saint Brigit s interces 
sion. May we all attain that union in scecula sceculorum. Amen. 



III. 

BETHA CHOLUIM CHILLE- 



ON THE LIFE OF SAINT COLUMBA- 



BETHA COLUIM CHILLE INCIPIT. 

Lebar Brccc, pp. 2g, b 30.* 



[E]xii de terra tua et de cognatione tua et de domo patris tui 
et vade in terrain quam tibi monstravero. Facaib dothir 7 dothal- 
main. dochoibne 1 colkzi/e. 7 tathardu ridiles erumsa. 7 eirg isintir 
faillsigfetsa duit. 

INcoimdid fen dorat incomairle cairdemailsea dochind nahzrsi 
forpthi 7 nacretmi comlani .i. do abraam mac tara corofacbad athir 
7 atalmam fen .i. tir chaldea. 7 cotisad diaoilithre isintir rofaillsig 
dia do .i. tir tairngire. 



Moysi immurro mac amra tdisech tuathi d infer rolinad drath 
7 deolaidacht inspir/0 noeb ise roscrib incoibige coisecarthasa thall 
hingfliflris rechta. coromarad dogres iconectatf inchomairle cair- 
demail dorat incoimdiu fodessin do abraam doerail aelithre fair. 
conepert fn ss. exi de terra. Facaib tiothir. 7 &o\.halmain e. s. 



Haec quidem istoria nota est. abraham a domino praeceptum 
fuisse. ut terram caldeorum desereret. et terram repromisionis 
adiret. [p. 3O a ]. ISscel airdirc isinscrzptuir. incoimdiu fen diaerail 
for abraam facbail tire caldea ropathardu diles do 7 tidecA/ dia 
oilithre itir thairngm. 2 ardaig inmaithiw^a nobiad do fen de ocus 
diacloind 7 diaciniud toranessi. 

ISte hautem abraham caput fidei est et pater omnium fidelium 
sicut dicit apostolus. infer immurro diatarut dia inchomairlisea .i. 
abram isesside airmith^r isinscnptuir aratha/r donahuli iresechaz 3 
ama/ demniges intasp^/ a?0apair. Omnes qui sunt ex fide hii sunt 

1 Read dochoibnes ? a perhaps tarrngeri. 



ON THE LIFE OF SAINT COLUMBA. 



Exi de terra tua et de cognatione tua et de domo pair is tui et vade 
in terram quam tibi monstravero. Leave thy country and thy land, 
thy kindred in the flesh, and thine own home, for My sake, and 
get thee into the country that I will shew thee. 

The Lord God himself gave this friendly counsel unto the head 
of the perfect Faith and of the complete Belief, to wit, unto Abraham 
son of Terah, that he should leave his own country and land, to 
wit, the country of Chaldea, and that he should go in pilgrimage 
into the country which God shewed him, to wit, the Land of 
Promise. 

Now Moses son of Amram, chief of God s people, the man 
who was filled with the grace and the favour of the Holy Ghost, 
it was he that wrote this consecrated text there in Genesis of 
the Law that it might abide perpetually with the Church, this friendly 
counsel which the Lord himself gave to Abraham to enjoin pilgrim 
age on him, when He said unto him : Exi de terra. Leave thy 
country and thy land for My sake. 

Haec quidem historia nota est. Abraham a Domino praeceptum 
fuisse ut terram Chaldeorum desereret et terram repromissionis adiret. 
It is an conspicuous tale in the scripture : the Lord himself enjoin 
ing Abraham to leave the country of Chaldea, which was his own 
fatherland, and to go on a pilgrimage into the Land of Promise, 
because of the good which was to accrue thereof to himself and 
to his children, and to their descendants after them. 

Iste autem Abraham caput fidei est et pater omnium fidelium, sicut 
dicunt apostoli. The man, therefore, to whom God gave this coun 
sel, to wit, Abraham, it is he that is accounted in the scripture as 
the father of all the faithful ; as the apostle certified! and saith : 
Omnes qui sunt ex fide hi sunt filii Abraham. " The sons of Abra- 



92 Bet ha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, p. 30*. 



filii abrahae. ISiat mc abraham iarfir arintaspe&gt;/ nahuli nosinntam- 
laigend oiris forpthi. 

Quod hautem patri fidelium praecipitur. 1 hoc omnibus filiis 
eius implendum relinquitur. ut terram suam deserant et carnalem 
patriam derelinquant. INmaith din roerail dia sund for athazr 
naniresech .i. forabram. dlegar dia m&lt;zcu inadiaid. .i. donahuli 
iressachu acomalliud .i. atir 7 atalmaz//. anindmas 7 anairfited 
ssegulta. dofhacbail arincoimdid nandula. 7 dul anseletir forpthi 
iarnainnsam#z7sium. 

Tres hautem sunt modi uocationum. Otri modaib immurro 
thocuirith^r nadoine cohaichentz/.? 7 comunterus inchoimded. 

primus ex deo. ise cetus inc&lt;?7na mod .i. angr^sacht 7 anadan- 
nad nanddine onrath diada cotecat domognam donchoimdid iarn- 
desmirecht pdil 7 anntoin man0z 7 naman^f^ niresach archena 
rofognatar dodia tall isinegipt. 

secundus per hominem. Tocuirth^r din nadaine onmod thah- 
aise tmduine .i. tre snaproceptorib noemu prz tchat inscrzptuir 
ndiada donaddinib iarndesmirechtsin poil aspwz / roprz tchan dogen- 
tib conusiuc tr/a line intsos&lt;:e7a dochumm puirt b^/had. 

tertius ex necessetate. Tocuritlw din nadoine ontresmod 
tnaecentaid .i. intan chom^cnigth^r frifognum dodia trz athreblatib 
7 trza gvassachtu bais. no trza deliugud fn snamaithib aimserda 
imbit. iarndesmb&lt;?rechtsin popuil israel. rochomthoi com^icc cosin- 
comdid hoadrad hidal 7 zrracht iarnacomecnugw^ onatreblatib ocus 
onadoccomla fuaratar onacinedaib echtrandai amal indist&lt;?r isin- 
scrzptuir noem. Hinc dabt d dicit. conid diaforcellsin atb^z r infaith 
dabid. Clamauerunt ad dominum cum tribulabantur et de necesse- 
tatibus eorum liberauit eos. Ofogebed pop/ isr^l tr^blati ocus 
guassachtu mora. ^guided 7 noaitched incomdid corosaerad iat 
donadoccomlaibsin. 

Abraam ergo diuina gratia instinctus mandatum quod fuerat 
ei imperatum a domino impleuit. et exit in carran in qua mortfu] us 
es/ pater eius et inde transmigrant in terram repromisionis. Abram 
din cend nahirsi forpthi 7 nacretmi comlani. orogrased onrath 
diada rochomaill intimna xoforcongrad onchomdid fair .i. dochuaid 
hitir chaldea cocarran airm inepilt aathair. 7 tanic asside cotir 
thairngire. 

Tribus hautem modis patria deseritwr. uno inutili et duobus 
utilibus. Aidt immurro tnVrnaile ofacaib nech aathardai intan 

1 Facs. praecipltum. 



On the Life of St. Columla. 93 



ham, in truth, saith the apostle, are all who resemble him in per 
fect faith." 

Quod hautem patri fidelium praeceptum hoc omnibus filiis ejus 
implendum relinquitur, ut terrain suam deserant et carnalem patriam 
derelinquant. The good, then, which God enjoined here on the 
father of the faithful, to wit, on Abraham, it is incumbent on his 
sons after him, namely, on all the faithful, to fulfil it, to wit, to 
leave their country and their land, their wealth and worldly delight, 
for the sake of the Lord of the Elements, and to go into perfect 
pilgrimage in imitation of him. 

Tres autem sunt modi vocationis. Now, in three ways are men 
folk cited to the knowledge and to the friendship of the Lord. 

Primus ex deo. The first way is the urging and the kindling 
of men by the Divine Grace till they come to serve the Lord, after 
the example of Paul, and Antony the monk, and of the other faith 
ful monks who served God there in Egypt. 

Secundus per hominem. Men-folk, again, are cited in the 
second way, through a human being, to wit, through the holy 
preachers who preach the divine scripture to the men-folk after 
that example of Apostle Paul, who preached to the Gentiles until 
he brought them by the line of the Gospel to the harbour of Life. 

Tertius ex necessitate. Men-folk, then, are cited in the third way 
through necessity, that is, when they are constrained to serve God 
through tribulations and through dangers of death, or by separation 
from the temporal good wherein they sojourn, after that example 
of the people of Israel, who often returned to the Lord from the 
worship of idols and images after being constrained by the tribula 
tions and hardships which they met with from the outland tribes ; as 
is told in the Holy Scripture : Hinc David dicit. Wherefore to pro 
claim that, the Prophet David declareth : Clamaverunt ad dominum 
cum tribulabantur et de necessitatibus eorum liberavit eos. Whenever the 
people of Israel underwent tribulations and great dangers, they used 
to beseech and pray the Lord to free them from those hardships. 

Abraham, ergo, &c. Abraham, therefore, the head of the 
perfect Faith and of the complete Belief, when he was urged by 
the Divine Grace, fulfilled the command which was enjoined on him 
by the Lord, to wit, he went into the country of Chaldea as far 
as Haran, where his father died, and he came thereout to the 
Land of Promise. 

Tribus autem modi s patria deseritur uno mutili, et duobus utili- 
bus. Now, three ways there are in which one leaveth his father- 



94 Betha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, pp. 30* 3o b . 

teit inaelethir. 7 ata oen dibside arna fagabar fochmicc odia 7 ado 
arafagabar. Aliquando enim patria corpore tantum relinquitur. 
nee mens a carnalibus studiis alienatur. nee bona opera appetuntur 
.i. tan and facbaid nech aathardai ochurp nama 7 nietarscarann 
arn^wma fhpecdaib 7 dualchib. 7 nisantaig sualchi nasognim dode- 
nam. IN tali ergo perigrinatione nihil nisi afflictio corporis fit. 1 
nullus uero anime perfectus. INaelithre iarum dognith&lt;?r zmlai d 
sin nifhasand ditorad no tarbai donanmain. acht ssethar 7 imlvad 
cuirp codimain. arissvail atharbai doneoch ergi aath&lt;2rda mine 
d^rnai maith nahecmais. Nam et postquam abraham corpore patria 
exivit 2 tune et dominus dixit. Uair cid abraham fen isiarfacb^/7 
do athire dilis 7 isiarneterscara/ friss iarcurp dorat incoimdiu 
incomarlise do. conepert. exi de terra tua. ben docheill bud^/a dotir 
7 dota\mam. 7 nabid donvwma rahimpod ris doridise. Acsi aperte 
[p. 3O b ] diceret. Carnalia uitia patriae in qua fueras corpore. 
mente simul et corpore deuita. ama/ bided atb^rad dia fein cufollwj 
rehabraam. imgaib ochurp 7 oanmain osund amach itailithri pecdai 
7 dualchi intire inroatrebais inallana iarcurp. vair isinann doneoch 
7 0aittrebad innaatharda dianinntamlaiged besa aath^rda inaaili- 
thri. Non enim in uia pedum sed in uia morum proximatur ad 
dominum. Uair nocon oset choss no oimluad cuirp chomfocsiges 
nech dodia. acht istrza denam sobes 7 sualach. 



Aliquando mente tantum patria relinquitur. et non corpore. 
sicut sunt quidam qui quamuis in patria peragunt uitam regione. 
patriam tamen uiuendo carnaliter non norunt. sed iustis causis 
quibusdam cogentibus in suis locis manent habitantes quasi non 
habitant^. Fecht aile immurro facaib nech aathardai dduthra^/ 
cn de 7 mmman cencofacaib ochurp. am#/ docuirith&lt;?r donahord- 
nigib tdchathit ambetha inatirib fen cobas. arnosfastat tuatha ocus 
ecl^i isnaferaaib imbit formet atarba dochach. 7 vair na^ archol-. 
laidecht tairisit inanath^rdai gebid acainduthm^/ greim noilithir 
doib iconchomdid. 

Aliquando mente 7 corpore. ut sunt hii quibus dicitur. Fecht 
aile tra foccaib nech a afhardai cocomlzn ochurp 7 oanmain am&lt;z/ 
f&lt;?racsat indaps/#z7. 7 lucht nahailithrz forpthi diarotharngir incoim 
diu mormaith isinsosce/a. dianerbairt. Uos qui dereliquistis omnia 

1 Facs. sit. a Facs. exisit. 



On the Life of St. Columba. 95 



land when he goeth into pilgrimage, and there is one of these 
for which no reward is gotten from God, and two for which 
(reward) is gotten. Aliquando enim patria corpore tantum relinqui- 
tur, nee mens a carnalibus studiis alienatur, nee bond opera appetuntur. 
Sometimes a person leaveth his fatherland in the body only, and 
his mind severeth not from sins and vices, and he desireth not 
to practise virtues or good deeds. In tali ergo per egrinatione nihilnisi 
afflidio corporis fit, nullus vero animce perfedus. The pilgrimage, 
therefore, that is made in that wise, there groweth thereof neither 
fruit nor profit to the soul ; but it is a labour and disturbance of 
the body in idleness, for it little profiteth a man to abandon his 
fatherland if he doeth not good away from it. Nam et post- 
quam Abraham corpore patria cxivit tune et Dominus dixit. For even 
unto Abraham himself, on leaving his own country and on 
separating from it in the body, the Lord gave this counsel, 
when He said : Exi de terra tua. Take thy heed henceforth off 
country and land, and let not thy mind be for turning thereto 
again. Acsi aperte diceret carnalia vitia patria in qua fueras cor 
pore, mente simul et corpore devita, as if what God himself had mani 
festly said to Abraham was Shun both in body and soul hence 
forth, in thy pilgrimage, the sins and vices of the land wherein thou 
hast hitherto dwelt in the body ; for it is the same to anyone as 
if he still dwelt in his home should he copy in his pilgrim 
age the customs of his home. Non enim in via pedum sed in 
via morum proximatur ad Dominum. For it is not by path of feet, 
nor by motion of body, that one draws nigh to God, but it is 
through practice of good customs and virtues. 

Aliquando mente tantum patria relinquitur. Another time, a 
person leaveth his home in desire of heart and of mind, though 
he leaveth not in the body, as it happens to the ordained, who 
spend their lives in their own countries till death, for laymen 
and clergy 1 detain them in the lands wherein they dwell, because 
of their great profitableness to all ; and since it is not for the 
sake of the body they abide in their fatherland, their good will 
availeth them with the Lord as a pilgrimage. 



Aliquando mente et corpore, ut stint hi quibus dicitur. At another 
time, then, a man leaveth his fatherland completely in body and 
in soul, even as the twelve Apostles left, and those of the perfect 
pilgrimage for whom the Lord foretold great good in the gospel, 

1 Lit. territories and churches. 



96 Betha Clioluim Chille, helar Brecc, p. 30 b . 

propter me. patrem et matrem uxorem filios et filias agrum et omnia 
quae habere potuistis centuplum accipietis in hoc seculo. et uitam 
eternam in future. Denaid airithe de seo olfsu. uathad sochaide 
rothrecsib formsa bartir 7 bar coibnes collat de. barselb 7 barnoib- 
nius saegulla cofuidbi 1 ac&lt;?7 coibes domaith vaimsea ifw isintssegul 
7 isin b^Maid suthain tall iarfuigell bratha. 



Hii sunt ueri perigrini qui cum psalmista possunt dicere. 
ISiatso lucht nahoilit^rz cdmlani iarfir. isanapersaind atb?rt infaith 
iccomaidem 7 icatlugud dodia. Aduena sum apud te domine et 
perigrinus sicut omnes per mundum. Bmm abuide ritt ade arin- 
faith isailit^n 7 isdeoraidecht dam isintssegul iarninntsama// 
nasruthi remtechtach. 

Soch2(/e tra domogadaib dilsi inchoimded et/r petarlaicc ocus 
nufiadwtfzVe rochomaillset coforpthi incomairle chaintarbachsa .i. 
fcracsat ati r 7 atalmam. anathtzrdai 7 acoibnes collaide. arincoim- 
did nandula. 7 dochotar inoilit^rz toltanaig 2 itirib ciana comaw- 
chuib. feib rochomaill 7 foracaib aduchustalw^zh. argrad 7 vaman 
inchoimded. intardnoem 7 intardecnaid 7 mmac toga dodia 
diata lith 7 foraithmet inecmo/zg innareesea 7 na haimsire. id est 
sanctus prespiter columba .i. vasalsacart innse goedel. inchoer 
comraicc roheccrad othallnib 7 odanaib examlu inspir/^ noem .i. 
intii noemchol#/rc cilk mac iiftiwithe. 



isann immurro celebrait nacm/aztfe lith 7 sollamain aetsechta 
colui m cille hiqamtid iuin arai lathi mis grene cefl&abliadfe* isinla- 
thise indiu, 7 rl. 

INdisit immurro ecnaide nangoedel indinbuidsin cecfabliadtie 
becan cwwbair donfoilsiug^ 3 socheneoil 7 sserchlanda^/a noim- 
cholm m ct lle. 7 din donafertaib 7 donamirbulib diairmide doroine 
incoimdiu aire ifW isintsaegul. 7 donforbai 7 donforciund tsaine- 
mail dorat fadeoid forarith mbvadai .i. roc^tain coafirathardai ocus 
coafirduchus fen .i. cohattr^ parrduis ifr^cnarcwj de cosir. 



1 Read cofuigbthi ? 

2 MS. toltanaid. 

3 Facs. donforoilsiugwrf. 



On the Life of St. Columla. 97 



when he said : Vos qui dereliquistis omm a propter me, &c. " Take 
heed of this," saith Jesus, [" ye] few of many who have forsaken 
for me your land and your fleshly kindred, your wealth and your 
worldly happiness, that ye shall receive an hundred-fold of good 
from me here in the world and in the life everlasting yonder after 
the sentence of Doom." 



Hi sunt vert peregrini qui cum psalmista possunt dicere : These 
are they of the perfect pilgrimage in truth, it is in their person that 
the prophet spake in praise and in thanks to God. Advena sum 
apudte, domine, et peregrinus sicut omnes per mundum. " I give thee 
thanks for it, O God," saith the prophet, " I have pilgrimage and 
exile in the world even as the elders who went before." 

Many of the faithful servants of the Lord, both in the Old 
Law and the New Testament, fulfilled perfectly this kindly profit 
able counsel, to wit, they left their country and their land, their 
home and their kindred in the flesh, for sake of the Lord of 
the Elements, and they went into willing pilgrimage in far-off 
lands with monks, even as he fulfilled it and left his native 
country for the love and fear of the Lord, he the high saint and the 
high sage and the son chosen of God, for whom there is a festi 
val and commemoration at the occurrence of this season and 
of this time, to wit, sanctus presbyter Columba, to wit, the noble 
priest of the Island of the Gael, the focal ball 1 which was inlaid 
with the diverse talents and gifts of the Holy Ghost, to wit, the 
holy Colomb Cille son of Fedilmith. 

The time at which the Christians celebrate the festival and 
hightide of Colombcille s death is on the fifth of the ides of June, 
as to the day of the solar month, every year on this very day. 

Now, the wise men of the Gael relate at that season every 
year a small abridgment of the setting-forth of the noble kin 
and noble descent of holy Colombcille, and of the marvels and 
miracles innumerable which the Lord wrought for him here in the 
world, and of the completion and special end which he gave at 
last to his victorious career, namely, the attaining to his true home 
and his own true native country, to the abode of Paradise in the 
presence of God forever. 



1 Caer comraic was a ball, or something in which various colours met at a 
common centre. E. C. 



98 Bet ha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, pp. 3o b , 31*. 

Uasal \ra acene l coluim citte illeth intscegail .i. dochen/1 con&\\\ 
meic neill atacomnaic. Toich do rige nerenn iarcenel 7 tarcj do 
minasleced fen vada ardia. 



din cwwbad mac toga dodia he. vair bator sruthi erenn 
ocathairc^/ul renagenemain. 

Dorarngert ceius sinnser sacart nerenn .i. seanmochtai lugbaid 
inti[p. 3i a ] colum cille cet mbliadan renagenemain. vair fechtus 
dolluid achoic mochta. mac rith aainm. 7 coad cno inalaim do. 
ftwerbairt mochta friss. nilemsa olse inferann asatartha nacnoi sin. 
taisig iat coti inti isaferann. Cuin doraga sin ol incoicc. ICind 
cet mbliadan armochta. 



Nognathaiged din. mochta aaiged fothuaid acairnaigthe. 
nafiarfaigiti s amter de cid arandenad sin ut dixit fr/u. 

Macan gignith^r atuaid 

latwrcbail nambitho. 

torthigeid eriu an breo 

ocus alba, doinech do. 

Dorarngert tra zthair baitse 7 forcefail nangoedel .i. patraic. 
diamboi ocbetmzchad conaill isfth seda. intan rofurim adilaim ior 
con&\\ 7 foramac for krgus mac conaill .i. alam dess for cend fergwja 
7 alam chle for [cend] conaill. Romoc^/naig comll sin. 7 roiar- 
faig 1 de cid ararsamaig 2 alamu &mal siut. ut dixit patnhkr inrannsa 



Genfid rmzccan diafine 
bid sui bid faith bid file 7 rl. 
Bid sui 7 bid craibdech 
bid abb larig narigrath 
bid bvan 7 bid bithmaith 
rombia imbithlaith diadidnad 
Dorinchan ira \&gt;rigit 0epert 

Maccan eithne toebfotai 
sech isbal isblathugw^ 
colum cille can cenon 
nirbo rom arathug&lt;/. 

1 MS roiarfaid. "^ 



On the Life of St. Columla. 99 

Noble, in sooth, was the kin of Colombcille as regards 
the world, to wit, of the kin of Conall son of Niall, is he. He 
had in right of kin, a choice of the sovranty of Ireland, and it 
would have been given to him had he himself not put it from him 
for sake of God. 

It is manifest, moreover, that he was a chosen son of God, be 
cause Ireland s elders had been prophesying of him before his birth. 
Firstly, the eldest of the priests of Ireland, namely, old Moch- 
tai 1 of Louth, foretold Colombcille an hundred years before his 
birth ; for once upon a time Mochta s cook (Macrith was his name) 2 
came to him with a dish of nuts in his hand for him, whereupon 
Mochta said to him: "To me belongeth not the land whence 
those nuts have been brought. Keep them until he whose land it 
is shall come." " When will he come?" saith the cook. "At the 
end of a hundred years," saith Mochta. 

Mochta, again, was wont to turn his face to the north when 
praying. His household would ask him why he did so, and he 
said to them, 

" A manchild will be born in the north 

At the uprising of the 

Ireland grows fruitful, (a splendid flame) 

And Scotland his." 

The father of the baptism and teaching of the Gael, name 
ly Patrick, when he was blessing Conall at Si th Aeda, then he 
placed his two hands on Conall and on his son Fergus son of 
Conall, to wit, his right hand on the head of Fergus and his left 
on the head of Conall. Conall wondered thereat, and he asked 
him why he placed his hands in that wise, so Patrick sang this 
stave : 

" A manchild shall be born of his family, 
He will be a sage, a prophet and a poet, &c. 3 
He will be a sage, and he will be pious, 
He will be an abbot with the King of the royal ramparts, 
He will be steadfast and he will be ever good, 
He will be in the eternal kingdom for his consolation. 
Brigit foretold him and said : 
" Manchild of longsided Ethne, 
He is bright, he is a blossoming, 
Colombcille, clear without blemish, 
It was not over soon to perceive him." 

1 Adamnan s Maucteus, a Briton. 

a See Vita S. Maccratii, ad u Aug. Colg. Tr. Th. 449 a. a. 14. 

* Vide supra, p. 41. 



ioo Betha Choluim Chille, Lebar Brecc, p. 31*. 

Dora[r]ngir tra espw eogain arda sratha dlanep&lt;?rt. 
Mac be rthar dofe dlimid bid mind fbrcechcleir 
fedhiwid mac fergus[a] maic conaill male n&ll 

Dorarngir tra boite mac bro*naig invair aetsechtai intff colut m 
cille conepertfn amuntir. 1 

Rogenair isinoidchese anocht mac an oirmitnech fiadia ocus 
dainib 7 doraga sund icind .xxx. bli adan onocht. dafer .x. din 
bid he ab n. 7 ise foillsigfides moligisea. 7 torindfess morelicc ecus 
biaid arnoentu 2 hinim 7 itzlmain. 

Ama/ roterchanad iarww osruthib erenn gein colutm cille. 
isamla^ rofiugrad ifi sib 7 inaislingib feib rofiugrad isintaidbsin 
larfas diama/^a/r .i. andarlea bratt mor dothaba/Vt di coro^t 
oindsib mod cocaer nambrcw:c. 7 niboi dodhathaib dath naboi and. 
tcacca oclach in etach taitnemach corruc uathi inbrat isinser ocus 
batoirsech ethne desin. 7 andarlee tanic intdclach c//na addochum 
dondise conepert fr/ asi. A ben maith arintoclaeh nirice aless 
toirse dodenam. acht iscoru duit suba 7 forbailti. uair inmbratsa 
issed doforne ^wberasu mac 7 bid Ian eri 7 albu diaforcetul. 



ITwwnarc tra anben imtha sin aislingthe .i. ethaite 
matf andarlea dobreith inathir ethne focn chaib zierm 7 albaw, 
Rue tra ethne fen brez M f&lt;?rinaisli[n]ge sin. 7 ised atb^rt iarw.- 
B^rutsa orsi mac. 7 rosia aforptful focrzcha^ tienn ^ alban. 

Ama/ roterchanad tra osruthib erenn 7 ama/ itcess ifisib roge- 
nir colww 7/e amlaz^ gortan din ainm inluicc inrogenir. iseptid 
clecimb/r tra. arai lathi mis grene rdgenir. dardain ditt ari lathi 



Amra tra inmac;rogenir and mac rig nime 7 talmas .i. colum 
CtZ/e mat fedhwid mf ferg^a mw- waill gulba/ mc neill 



1 Facs - . , arnooentu . 



On the Life of St. Columla. 101 



Bishop Eogan of Ardstraw foretold him, when he said, 
" A son will be born unto Fedilmith, he will be a diadem 

over every train. 
Fedilmith son of Fergus, son of Conall, son of Niall." 

At the hour of his death, Boite son of Bronach foretold Co- 
lombcille, when he said to his household : "There hath been born 
this very night a son, splendid, venerable before God and men, and 
he will come here in thirty years from to-night. Twelve men, 
moreover, will be his company, and it is he that will make manifest 
my grave and mark out my cemetery, and in heaven and on earth 
our union shall abide." 

Even as Colombcille s birth was foretold by Ireland s elders, 
so was it figured in visions and in dreams. Even so it was figured 
in the vision which appeared to his mother, namely, her-seemed 
that a great cloak was given her which reached from the Isles 
of Mod 1 to Caer nam-Brocc, 2 and of hues there was not a hue 
that was not therein. And a youth perceived the radiant vesture 
and took away from her the cloak into the air, and Ethne was 
sorrowful thereat, and her-seemed that the same youth came again 
unto her and said unto her: "O good woman," said the youth, 
* thou hast no need to grieve, but meeter for thee were joyance 
and delight, for what this cloak portendeth is that thou wilt bear 
a son, and Ireland and Scotland will be full of his teaching." 

In like wise the woman saw a vision, namely, the birds of the 
air and of the land, as her-seemed, bore Ethne s bowels through 
out the borders of Ireland and Scotland. Ethne herself gave 
judgment on this vision, and thus said she then : " I shall bear 
a son," she saith, " and his teaching shall reach throughout the 
borders of Ireland and Scotland." 

As was foretold by Ireland s elders, and as was seen in visions, 
so was Colombcille born. Now Gortan 3 is the name of the place 
wherein he was born. On the seventh of the ides of December, as 
regards the day of the solar month, he was born. On Thursday y 
of the days of the week. 

Wonderful, in sooth, was the son that was born there, a son 
of the King of heaven and earth, to wit, Colombcille, son of 
Fedilmith, son of Fergus* son of Conall Gulban, son of Niall, of 

1 The Clew Bay islands on the coast of Mayo, Reeves Columba, 9 1 . 

2 Supposed to be some place in the north-east coast of Scotland, Reeves 
Columl-a, pp. 191, 460. 

3 A wild district in the county of Donegal, ib. Ixviii. 



102 Betha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, pp. 31*, 3i b . 

ndtgiallatg. Amdthair tra dochorpngiu laigen .i. ethne dlmar 
\ngen dima mete noee. 

Rucad tmmurro iarnabreith foc/fo /oir corobaitsed cruithnechan 
mac cellachain intuasalsacart. 7 rosail iarsin iarnarad do aingel 
de ris. 

Otanic tra aimser legind dd. luid inclerech coaraile faith bdi 
isintir dia iarfaigid dd cuin bud choir tindsc^/ul donmarc. Orafeg 
infaith nem. ised ztbert. scrib dd innossa aapgiter. Roscrzbad 
iarsin imbairgin. 7 isamlaid doromailt colum cille inbairgen .i. aleth 
friusce anair 7 aleth friusr&lt;? aniar. Atb^rt infaith tmrath faitsine. 
isamlaid bias ferand inmc seo .i. aleth fna muir anair (.i. inal- 
bain) 7 aleth aile frmmir aniar .i. anein w*. 



Nirbocian iarsin. luid 7 aaite cobrugach mac ndega cwsinep- 
scop dorathaib [p. 3i b ] muige enaig iti r e*nda. Roherbad fria- 
[a]itisium fr/ sincl^rech ord sacairt dode nam isinm^dutsin arinsol- 
kwain. Rogab tra imnari essium corofhemid insalm ranic dd 
dogabail. Misericordias dei insalmsin. gabais tra mac inraith 
colum cille insalm doraith aaite. acht chena nirolegsom. acht 
aapgit^r nama remisin. coromdrad ainm d^ 7 coluim cille. tnasin- 
mirbuil mdirsin. 



Fectwj aile luidsium dothdrruma duine g&lat r. ocdul doib 
tmchollid tw^lid coss inclerig f&lt;?rsin^air conepil de cohopund. 
tucsom achochall fochend inclerig. Andarleis isinachotlad boi. 7 
gabaid formebrugud aaicechta cucualater aroli caill^a aairlegend 
cdarecMs. ised dorimet eolaig mile colleith eturru. 7 noclunti 
com^icc fogar agothasw/w inoiretsin. ut dixit 



Son agotha coluim cille 

mor abinde vas cec^cleir 

cocend coic eel dec cemend 

aidble reimend ead ba reill. 

Tancutar nacailkc^a izrum 7 fuaratar incle recri marb foracmd 
7 artxrtsat fr/sium diiscad inching doib. Teitsium foc/fo /oir 
dodwcad inclerig;. Atr^cht din inclerech abas labrethir coluim 



On the Life of St. Columla. 103 



the nine hostages. His mother was of the Corprige of Leinster, 
to wit, Ethne the Great, daughter of Dimma mac Noe. 1 

After his birth he was straightway taken to be baptized by 
Cruithnechdn, son of Cellachan, the noble priest, and he fostered 
him afterwards, being so bidden by an angel of God. 

Now, when came the time for him to read, the cleric went to 
a certain spaeman who was biding in the country, to ask him when 
the boy ought to begin. When the spaeman had scanned the 
sky, he said, " Write for him his alphabet now." It was there 
after written on a cake, and in this wise Colombcille ate the 
cake, to wit, half thereof to the east of the water and the other 
half to the west of the water. The spaeman said, through the gift 
of spaedom, " So shall the territory of this son be, to wit, half 
thereof to the east of the sea, that is in Scotland, and the other 
half to the west of the sea, that is in Ireland." 

Not long thereafter he and his fosterer went at Christmas to 
Brugach son of Deg, the bishop, to the Ramparts of Mag Enaig 
in Tir Enda.* It was entrusted to his fosterer the cleric to 
perform a priest s duties in that place during the hightide. 
But bashfulness seized him so that he could not (chant) the 
psalm that came to him to chant : Misericordias Dei was that 
psalm. Howbeit the gifted son Colombcille sang the psalm in his 
fosterer s behoof. And yet theretofore he had read his alphabet 
only. And God s name and Colombcille s were magnified through 
that great miracle. 

At another time he (Cruithnechan) went to watch by a sick 
person. As they were going through a wood, the cleric s foot slipt 
on the path and thereof he suddenly died. Colombcille put his cowl 
under the cleric s head, thinking that he was asleep, and began to 
rehearse his lesson, so that certain nuns heard him as far as their 
cell. The learned compute that there was a mile and a half be 
tween them, and the sound of his voice was often heard at that 
distance, ut dixit (poetd) : 

The sound of Colombcille s voice 
Great (was) its sweetness above every train, 
To the end of fifteen hundred paces, 
Though great the distance, it was clear. 

Then came the nuns and found the cleric dead before them, 
and they told Colombcille to bring the cleric back to life for them. 
Straightway went he to bring the cleric to life. The cleric 

latine filius nauis dici potest, Adamnan. 

2 now Raymochy in the barony of Raphoe, Reeves Columla, 192, in the 
county of Donegal. 



104 Betha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, p. 3i b . 

cille zmal bid inachotlad nobeth. larsin roedbairt colum cille 
donchoimdid nandula. 7 cona.tta.ig teora itge vad .i. dge 7 ecna ocus: 
Q\\\lhri. dorata dd atrmr cocomlan. 



Celebrais \&rum dia aite. 7 dorat intaite cet 7 bmnac^/ain do 
codichra. 

Luid iarum dofogluimm ecnai czmnuasaleps^ .i. cofinden 
muigi bile. 

Fechtwj and testa fin [7] bairgen olfinde n onaiffriund. benna.- 
chais colum cille inusc^ corsoad hii m cotartad isin coilech naiffrmd. 
Romorad ainm de 7 coluim cille desin. 

Celebrais mum doAnden. 7 luid cogemman magi s . . . 

Fectwj dosum icdenam aaicechta icgeman Vcacutar ingen 
andochumm forteichiud rianaroli duniorcnid cotorchatr inafiadnaz je 
7 cor^marb induidlid. rofurim colum cille bre/^ir nescaine fair 



Celebrais izxum dogemmdn 7 luid cofinddn cluana eraird. 
dofinden ciahairm andingned aboith. atb^rt finden. 
denad indorus nacille. Dorignesium tra. aboith 7 nirbo indorw^ 
nacille induairsin. Mbertsum chena robad he dorus nacat^^ach 
iartain. 7 rocomallad tra annisin. 

Feis aidche &lt;?meled abroin cer^fer arnuair donahapste/aib. 
aingel de nime tra nomeled doraith coluim cz"//e. ba hisin onoir 
dob^red incoimdm dosom arasochen//chi sech each. 

Taidbsiu tarfas tan ele dofinden .i. da esca dotwrcabail ocluain 
eraird .i. escai ordaige 7 escai aile airgide. Luid intescai ordai 
ituaiscert nahiridsi corolas heri 7 alba desium. luid intescai airgide 
corogab imonsinaind corolas eri armedon de. Colum cille conor 
asocheneoil 7 aecnai. et ciaran mac intshair indairged. cotaitnem 
ashualach 7 asognim. 



On the Life of St. Columla. 105 

arose out of death at Colombcille s word even as if he had 
been asleep. Thereafter Colombcille offered (himself) to the 
Lord of the Elements, and begged three boons of Him, to 
wit, chastity and wisdom and pilgrimage. The three were fully 
granted him. 

He then bade farewell to his fosterer, and the fosterer gave 
him leave and a fervent blessing. 

Then he went to learn wisdom to the high bishop, namely, to 
Finden of Movilla. 

At a certain time wine and bread were lacking unto Finden 
for the mass. Colombcille blessed the water and it turned to 
wine, and was put into the offertory-chalice. God s name and 
Colombcille s were magnified through that miracle. 

He then bade farewell to Finden and went to Gemman 1 of 
Mag S. . . . Once while he was reading his lesson to Gemman, 
they saw a girl fleeing towards them before a certain manslayer, 
and she fell down in their presence and the .... killed her. 
Colombcille set a word of banning upon him, and he died forth 
with. 

He then bade farewell to Gemman and went to Finden of 
Clonard. He asked Finden where he should build his booth. 
Said Finden : " Make it in the door of the church." He then 
built his booth, and it was not in the door of the church at that 
time. He said, however, that it would afterwards be the door 
of the city, which thing was also fulfilled. 

Each of the apostles 3 used in turn to grind a night s meal in 
a quern. An angel of God of heaven used to grind on behalf of 
Colombcille. That was the honour which the Lord rendered him, 
because of the nobleness of his kin beyond the others. 

At another time there appeared unto Finden a vision, to wit, 
two moons arose from Clonard, a golden moon and the other a 
silvery moon. The golden moon fared into the north of the 
island, and Ireland and Scotland glistened thereby. The silvery 
moon fared on till it stayed by the Shannon, 3 and Ireland at her 
centre glistened thereby. Colombcille (was the golden), with the 
gold of his noble kin and his wisdom, and Ciaran the Wright s 
son (was) the silver moon, with the refulgence of his virtues and 
his righteous deeds. 

Adamnan s Gemmanus, Reeves Columba, 137. 

2 Twelve celebrated Irish Saints, of whom Colombcille was one Todd, 
JSt. Patrick, 99. 

3 i. e., at Clonmacnois. 



io6 Bet/ia Cliolidm Chillc, Lebar Brecc, pp. 3i b 32*. 



Celebrais iarum colum cille dofinne n. 7 luid 1 coglais noiden. 
vair boi .1. icfogluimm isindiisin icmobii. imchaindech 7 imchom- 
gall 7 imchiaran. Ambotha immurro friusce aniar. Adaig and ecus 
robenad incloc imiarmergi. Luid colum cille doneclats. Lia mor 
isinoidche sin isinabaind. Luid araide colum cille cona.eta.ch trethi. 
iscalma tecair annsin anocht aua neill ol mobii. istualngi dia 
arcolum cille insaethar dodigbail dinne. Octidecht doib asindecWj 
cw*accutar nabotha frihusce anair. icomfochruib naheclaji. 



Yectus* ann doronad eclas mor lamobfi. 7 batar naclerig 
icaimrad. cia Ian bud mian lacach dib dobeth occai isineclaz j. 
Ropadmaith lemsa olciaran allan domacu eclasi doathigid natrath. 
ropadmaith lemsa olcaindech allan dolebrair diafognam domacaib 
bethad. ropad maith lemsa olcomgall allan dosaeth 7 gakr. dobeth 
amchurp uodessin domtraethad 7 domtimorcuin. Dor[o]ega tra 
colum cille allan de or 7 argut docilmtach mind 7 manistrech de. 
Albert mobii nabad samail. acht ropad saidbrm [p. 32 a ] samad 
coluim cille oka s ccch samad ettr emnn 7 albain. 



Atbert mobii fraadaltaib dergi indinaid imbatar. ar donicfad 
teidm anaichnid ann .i. inbuide dionaill. 7 atb^rt beos iri colum 
cille narogabad ferand corodeonaig^ desium. Luid each dib 
alethi iarsin. Luid colum cille icen/1 cona.i\\ ed docuaid darinabaind 
dianad ainm biur. Annsin atb^rtsom bir fn fochainne. 7 nithom&lt;r^/ 
tra inteidm seca sin. 7 isfirt bitbeo beos sin. vair ce^teidm 
b^rthair taris. nilen secha sin iarmbrethir coluim cille. 



Luid colum cille ia.rum dodaire .i. rigdiin aeda meic ainmirech. 
barf erenn esside intansin. Hidprais inri indiinsin do colum cille 
7 opaidsium fobith timmna mobii. ICtidecht tra dosum asindiin 
imach fondricc fmdiis domunntir mobii 7 criss mobii occai dosam 
7 deonugud feraind do gabail iarne c mobii. ut dixit colum cille. 



Criss mobfi 

niptar simne immloa 

Facs, something like biid. 2 accent over t. 



On ike Life of St. Columla. 107 



Colombcille then bade farewell to Finde"n and went to Glas- 
nevin, 1 for there were fifty studying in that place with Mobii, 
together with Cainnech, and with Comgall, and with Giaran. 
Now their huts were to the west of the water. One night the 
bell for nocturns was rung. Colombcille fared to the church. 
There was a great flood in the river 9 that night. Nevertheless, 
Colombcille fared through it with his raiment. " Bravely comest 
thou there to-night, O descendant of Niall !" said . Mobii : " God 
is able (?)" said Colombcille, "to take the labour from us." 
When they were coming out of the church, they saw the booths 
to the east of the water near to the church. 

Once upon a time a great church was built by Mobii, and the 
clerics were a-thinking what full (thereof) each of them would wish 
to have with him in the church. " I should like," said Ciaran : 
" its full of church-students to attend at the (canonical) hours." 
" I should like," said Cainnech, " its full of books for the service 
of the Sons of Life." I should like," said Comgall, " its full of 
affliction and disease to be in my own body, to subdue and to 
repress me." Colombcille chose its full of gold and silver to cover 
God s relics and shrines. Mobii said that it should not be 
so (?), but that Colombcille s congregation should be wealthier 
than any congregation, both in Ireland and Scotland. 

Mobii told his fosterlings to leave the stead wherein they 
were, for that there would come an unknown pestilence, to wit, the 
Buide Chonaill 3 , and he said, besides, to Colombcille, that he should 
not take territory until he permitted him. They fared forth, there 
after, each of them his own way. Colombcille fared into Tircon- 
nell some distance. He went over the river the name whereof 
is Biur. There he said : " Biur against pestilence !" And the pes 
tilence did not go past that, and it is an ever-living miracle still, 
because any pestilence that is carried over it follows no farther 
than that, according to Colombcille s word. 

Then fared Colombcille to Deny, to the chief stronghold of 
Aed son of Ainmire, who was King of Ireland at that time. The 
King offered that stronghold to Colombcille, and he refuseth it, 
because of Mobii s command. Howbeit, on his coming forth out 
of the stronghold he met with two of Mobii s household, having 
Mobii s girdle for him and consent to take territory, Mobii having 
died. So Colombcille said : 
" Mobii s girdle 
Rushes were not round . . . (?) 

1 North of the Liffey, near Dublin. 2 The Tolka. 3 Reeves Columba, 182, 183. 



io8 Bet ha Cholulm Ch dle, Lelar Brecc, p. 32*. 



sech niroslaiced fnsaith 

nirohiadad immgoa. 

Ga[ba]is colum cille iarsin hiiidiin aeda 7 fothaigis ec\ais and 
cofirtaib hile dodenam innte. 

Fecht and foididsium amanchu isincoillid dobuain choelaig 
dociimtach eck^i accai indaire. isand roboinged incoelach iferund 
aroile dclaig. boi ifochraib donrecle s. Badocrd tra dosum infin- 
dach dobuain inaferond cendeonugw*/ do fode n. Otchuala tra 
colum ctlle innsin. atb^rt fnamuntir bmd olse log afeda do dog/vm 
eorna 7 curid isintelmain. Dochuaid immurro tarmeddn samraid 
intansin. Rucad iarww ingr^n donoclach. Rolaside 
ocus rofas combahabaid immlugnasad iarsin. 



Feet dosum indoire. dob^rt lenam bee chuice diabaits^. 
niboi tra usce ifochraib do. cotarutsww sigin nacrochi darsincarraic 
boi inafiadwawe. corremuid topar usa esti 7 corbaits^ inlenam ass 



Tan aile dosam indoire laium. 7 nosimraid dula doroim ocus 
doierusalem. 

Luidsium fectj aile odoire cutorinis martain conw^tuc inso- 
sce fa boi forbroinnib martain eel mbli adan itelmam c^^facaib 
indoire. 

Mor Ira dofertaib 7 mi rbulib dorigne dia for colum cille 
indoire. Rocarsww immurro comor incat/$raig sin f^wepert. 
ISaire charaimm doire 
araredi aragloine 
arislomnan aingel find 
onchind amice aroile. 

Fothaigis iarsin colum cille rath mboth. innsin rothdd^castor 
insaer abas, iarnabathud illind inmulind. 


Hiraith both beous testa, socc foramwwtirsium. corosb^nach- 
sum lama inm?/c bice boi inafail. fergna [a]ainmsiw &lt;r^d^rnaside 
insocc. 7 baheolach goibnechta he osin imach tr/anabmnachadsom. 

Luid iarww forcuairt procepta corig tethba .i. aed mac brenaind 
aainmsium. cotaruts^e do ininud hita dermach indi u. 



On the Life of St. Columba, 109 

" It never was opened against surfeit : 
It never was closed on lies." 

Colombcille thereafter settled in Aed s stronghold and found 
ed a church there and wrought many miracles therein. 

Once upon a time he sends his monks into the wood to cut 
wattling for building a church for him in Derry. Where the 
wauling was cut was in a certain warrior s land which lay near 
the cell. Now he was vexed that the timber was cut in his land 
without his own consent. So when Colombcille heard of that he 
said to his household : " Take him," saith he, " the price of his 
wood in barley-grain, and put it into the earth." Now at that time 
it had passed midsummer. The grain, however, was brought to 
the warrior. He cast it into the ground, and it grew and was 
ripe on Lammas-day 1 thereafter. 

Once when he was in Derry, a little child was brought to 
him to be baptized. There was no water near to him. He made 
the sign of the cross over the rock that lay before him, and a 
wellspring of water brake therefrom, and therewith the child was 
then baptized. 

Another time afterwards he was in Derry, and he thought 
of going to Rome and to Jerusalem. 

He went at another time from Derry to Tours of Martin, 
and brought away the gospel that had lain on Martin s breasts 
an hundred years in the ground, and he left it in Derry. 

Many were the marvels and miracles which God wrought for 
Colombcille in Derry. He loved that city greatly and said, 
" For this do I love Derry, 
For its stillness, for its purity, 
For it is quite full of white angels 
From one end to the other." 

Thereafter Colombcille founded Raphoe. 8 It was there he 
brought back from death to life the wright who had been drowned 
in the millpond. 

In Raphoe, moreover, his household lacked a ploughshare, 
whereupon he blessed the hands of the little boy that was with him 
(Fergna was his name), and Fergna made the share, and he was 
skilful in smithwork thenceforth through Colomb s blessing. 

He went afterwards on a preaching round to the King of 
Teffia. 3 Aed son of Brenann was his name, and Aed gave him 






1 in principiis Augusti mensis, Adamnan. 
2 In Tirconnell. 3 A large territory in Westmeath. 



no Bet ha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, pp. 32* 32 b . 



recles aicesium indsin. INdermuig din twctha ubla s&lt;?rua dosam 
corw-yb^mach iat comtar millsi. 7 isdodermuig rucad uzdsum 
cloidem se"nta do cholman mor mac diarmuta. ise rath boi forin- 
cloidem r0ahaplad nech inafrecnarcwj. conaitchess iwum oraile 
duine boi ingalur. 7 tucad do inclaidem comboi occa. blt adan Ira 
dondaidem acca. sech nirba beo nirba marb inoiretsin coruccad 
mdai dem vad iarww 7 conepil focMoir. Arsin tra robetmachsum 
dermach 7 foracaib cometaid diamwtir ann. .i. cormac ua liathan. 



Luidsium iarww cohaed slani mac hdiarmata. Taraill cusin- 
magin hita cenandas indiu .i. dun rig erenn hesede intansin. dun 
diarmata mete cerbaill. Orofuirged tra colum cille indoras induine 
rosgab fertairch&lt;?/ul inneich nobiad donbaile iartain. conepert fri 
becc mac dead .i. rigfaith diarmata meic cerbaill. 



A bice indissiu damsai 
cenandw^ lethan f^rglan 
[p. 32 b ] citne clerig notrefet 

citne oic notndeirget. 
ut dixit bee 

Clere fila fcralar. canta molta mate thigirnd 

Scerdait aoicc fnatairsech. biaid aimser basinill. 

Torinnis iarum incat/$raigsin inmod ofil. 7 b&lt;?nachais hi 
dole*ir. 7 atb^r/ ropad hi congbail budardi nobiad accai isnatal- 
mawtaib cencobad innte nobeth aesergi. 7 ocdenam dosom nafat- 
sine sin dorat aaiged siardess. 7 rofaitfestar comor. Roiarfaig 
boithm fath nafailte .L. mac bethad ar colum cille geinfess inoen 
oidche don coimdid isindimorachsa thiar .i. grafann chille scire 
rothirchansw^z and sin. feib rocomailled iartain. 



On the Life of St. Columba. 111 



the site whereon is Durrow 1 this day, and a cell was built by him 
there. In Durrow, moreover, bitter apples were brought to him, 
and he blessed them, and they became sweet. And it was from 
Durrow that a sained sword was taken from him to Colman the 
Great, son of Diarmait.* The virtue that lay in that sword was 
that none could die in its presence. And it was afterwards begged 
by a certain man who was in sickness, and the sword was given 
to him, and he had it. A year was that sword with him, and 
during that time he was not alive, and he was not dead. Wherefore 
the sword was afterwards taken away from him, and he died at 
once. So, therefore, Colombcille blessed Durrow, and left therein a 
warden (one) of his household, namely, Cormac descendant of 
Liathan. 

Then he went to Aed Slaine son of Diarmait. He came 
to the place where Cenannus 3 stands at this day ; it was the King of 
Ireland s stronghold at that time, the stronghold of Diarmait son 
of Cervall. When Colombcille was delaying at the door of the 
stronghold, he began to foretell what should befall the place 
afterwards, and he said to Becc son of De, Diarmait son of 
Cervall s chief-spaeman : 

" O Becc, tell thou to me, 

Cenannus the wide, pure-grassed, 

Whether clerics dwell in it, 

Whether warriors abandon it ?" 
Ut dixit Becc 

" The trains who are amidst it shall sing praises of the 
Lord s Son, 

Its warriors shall depart from its threshold, there will be 

a time when it will be secure." 

He then marked out that city in the manner in which it is, and 
blessed it vehemently, and said that it would be the noblest church- 
building he should have on earth, although his resurrection would 
not be therein. And when he was making that prophecy he set 
his face to the south-west, and laughed greatly. Boethfn asked 
the cause of the gladness. " Fifty sons of Life," said Colombcille, 
" will be born in one night to the Lord in this border (?) to the 
west." It was Grafann of Cellscire 4 he foretold then, as was 
afterwards fulfilled. 

1 Dair-mag campus roborum, in the north of King s County. 
8 See Reeves Columba, 249, 252. 

3 Now Kells in Meath. 

4 Now Killskeery in Meath. 



Betha C/ioluhn CkiUc, Lebar Brecc, p. 



Dair mor ira foraba colum ci/le cein bdi isinmaiginsin. romar- 
usiar indairsin cocian daimseru cotorchair tmdeilm ngaithe mori. 
conusruc aroli fer ni danuc dochoirtged achuaran. orogab ira uime 
achuarana iarnacoirtged. rolen claime obiind coabathis. 



Luid \dxum colum cille cohsed slane condemn fatsine do. cone- 
pert frts ropad sirsaeglach. acht minbad fmgalach. diandernat 
immurro fingal nibiad acht cethri blizdna diasaegul. 

Rose*nustar ira cochall do. 7 atb^r/ nigonfaide cein nobeth 
incochall sin imme. Darone immurro 3ed slane finghal darbrethir 
coluim chille forsuibne mac colmam. ICind .fin. mbliadan izrum 
luidsium forfecht. d^rmatis achochull. marbthar isindldsin. 

Fothaigis colum cille iarsin cella immda immbregaib. facbais 
ira sruthi 7 minda hile inntib. Facbais ossine mac cellaig icluain 
mor fer narda. Luid iarsin do manistir. isandsin rosben abachall- 
som fh sinarrad ngloine fr/ sro[f]resgab buite documm nime. coclos 
afogwr fcSncill uli. 7 rofoillsig lige mbuite. 7 dororaind achill ama/ 
dorarngert bilite fodessin illo aetsechta. arismor do chellaib doro- 
raindsium 7 dolebraib roscrib. ut dixit infile. 



Tri c&lt;# dororaind cenmannair. dochelkz 3 cainib isfir. 
is tri cet buadach trebon. lebor solas saer roscnb. 

Cipe lebor ira noscribad alam. cidfota nobeth fous nisbaithed 
cid enlitt^r and. 

Fothaigis eclat s irrachraind oirthir breg. 7 facbais colm^ 
deochain innte. Fectwj bater isineckwsin .i. colum cille 7 cdmgall 
7 caindech. Asb^rt comgall condernzd colum cille hidpairt chuirp 
cm/ 7 afola inafiadwa/^. , Doroine colum cille umaloit doib imme 
sin. owidannsin atwnairc caindech columa tentide 1 oscind coluim 
cille ceinboi uwzedpairt. Roindis caindech dochomgall sin. 7 iiconn- 
catar diblinaib \2xum incolamain. 

1 Ms. tentige. 



On the Life of St. Columba. 113 

There was a great oak under which Colombcille rested, while 
he abode in that place. This oak lived for a very many ages, 
until it fell through the crash of a mighty wind ; and a certain man 
took somewhat of its bark to tan his shoes withal. Now when 
he did on his shoes after they had been tanned, leprosy clave to 
him from sole to crown. 

Colombcille then went to Aed Slane, and made prophecy 
for him, and said that he would be long-lived, unless he were parri 
cidal. If, however, he should commit parricide he was to live but 
four years after. So Colombcille hallowed a cowl for him and said 
that he would not be wounded while that cowl was on him. How- 
beit, Aed Slane wrought parricide, against the word of Colombcille, 
on Suibne son of Colman. At the end of four years after, he 
went upon a foray: he forgot his cowl: he is killed on that day. 

Thereafter Colombcille founded many churches in Bregia. 
He left two elders and many relics therein. He left Ossene son 
of Cellach in Clonmore. 1 He went thereafter to Manister-Boiti. 2 
It was there that his staff touched the ladder of glass, whereby Bdite 
had ascended to heaven, so that its sound was heard throughout 
the whole church, and he shewed Boite s grave, and he marked 
out his church, as B(5ite himself had foretold on the day of his 
death. For many were the churches he marked out and the books 
he wrote, to wit, three hundred cells and three hundred books ; as 
said the poet 

He marked out, without loosening, three hundred fair 

churches, it is true; 
And three hundred gifted, lasting (?), bright, noble books 

he wrote. 

Though any book that his hand would write were ever so long 
under water, not a single letter therein would be drowned. 

He founded a church in Rachra* in the east of Bregia, and left 
deacon Colman therein. Once on a time that they were in that 
church, namely, Colombcille and Comgall and Cainnech, Comgall 
said that Colombcille should make an offering of Christ s Body 
and His Blood in their presence. Colombcille did service for 
them as to that. Then it was that Cainnech beheld a pillar of 
fire over Colombcille s head while at the offertory. Cainnech told 
that to Comgall, and then they both beheld the pillar. 

1 A parish in the diocese of Armagh, situate in the county of Louth and 
barony of Ferrard [= Fir Arda], Reeves, Columba, 281. 
* now Monasterboice, in the county of Louth. 
3 Now Lambay, Adamnan s Rechrca insula. 



1 14 Bet ha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, p. 



Fothaigis edais isininad hita sord indiii. Facbais fer smith 
diamtir and .i. finan lobur. 7 facbais insos7a roscrib alawz 
fodessin. Toirnis Ira aim tipra dianainm sord 1 .i. glan. 7 senais 
crass, vair babe s dosum crossa 7 polaire 7 tiaga lebor 7 aidme 
eclastacda dode num. ut dixit. 

Senais tii cet crossa. buadach* 

tri cet tiprat doba dian 

cet polaire an anathach 

la cet bachall la cet tiag. 

La noen boi colum cille 7 coindech fbmr inmara. Boi anfud 
mor forsindfhairgi. Albert caindech cid chanwj intond. Asbert 
colum cilfe do m#tersiu bdi ingabud anallana f&lt;?rsindfairgi conepilt 
oen dib. 7 dosb^ra incoimdiu chucainde isinmatainse imbaruch 
cwjinpurtsa hitaum. 

Fechtus dobrigit ocimdecht churrig liffe. 7 otwwnaire innog 
inmag nalaind scothsemrach inafiadnawe. is^ atb^rtsi inam^main 
diamad lee comus inmuigi &lt;w/idb&lt;rad don choimdid nandula. 
Foillsigth^r sin tra do colum cille 7 se inarecles isurd. conepert 
oguth mor. ismaith 3 inatarla donnoeboig. arisinand di onchoimdid 
7 combad lee fein dodiles inferund roidpair. 



[p. 33*]. Luid iarsin colaignib conwrfacaib cella immdai 
iarnaf(o)thugud leo imdrum monach 7 immoen. 7 imaroli cella 
imdai aile. 

Luid iarsin colum cille dochluain m0cn6is cwjinymmund 
dorfgne dochiaran leis. vair dorfgnesium molta immdai domwwtir 
de. ut dixit. 

Soer .111. uasail* ndcach apsto/ (?) itlfn ferta fe*r 

araill trialatin d6ba soebail. araill triagoedilg cain inscel. 

ISacluain tra dol(lu)id inmac bee ad6chummsom cotall bro- 
dirne bee dia^tach cenairiugw*/ do. Rofollsig tra dia dos0z 
anisin. dorarngert don mac combadsui 7 comba. cr^zibdech. isesin 

1 Facs. soid. 3 Here in MS. noidpred offerebat. 

3 Facs. isaith. * Read uasliu ? 



On the Life of St. Columla. 115 

He founded a church in the stead Where Swords 1 is at this 
day. He left an ancient man of his people there, namely, Finan 
Lobur, 2 and he left the gospel which his own hand wrote. 
There, too, he marked out a well named Sord, that is, pure, and 
sained a cross ; for it was his wont to make crosses and satchels 
and wallets for books and all church gear ; ut dixit \_poetd] 
" He sained three hundred victorious crosses, 
Three hundred wellsprings that were swift, 

An hundred booksatchels , 

With an hundred croziers, with an hundred wallets." 
One day Colombcille and Cainnech were biding on the brink 
of the sea, when a great tempest was on the main. Said Cainnech, 
"What singeth the wave?" Said Colombcille: "Thy household 
were in peril yonder on the sea, and one of them hath perished, 
and the Lord will bring them unto us to-morrow morning to this 
bank whereon we are." 

Brigit was one time wending through the Currach of Liffe, 
and when the virgin saw the delightful shamrock-flowering plain 
before her, she said in her mind that if she had power over the 
plain, she would offer it to the Lord of the Elements. That is 
manifested unto Colombcille in his cell at Swords, whereupon he 
said with a loud voice : " Well is what hath happened to the holy 
Virgin ! for it is the same to her with the Lord as if the land she 
hath offered were her own of right." 

Thereafter he fared to the Leinstermen and left many churches 
which he founded with them, together with Druim Monach and 
with Moen 3 and with other churches in plenty. 

Thereafter Colombcille fared to Clonmacnois, with the hymn 
which he had made for Ciaran : for he made many praises for 
God s household, ut dixit [poeta] 

Noble thrice fifty, the number of 

miracles are the grass-blades, 
Some in Latin which was eloquent (?), others in Gaelic, 

fair the tale. 

Now, it was in Clonmacnois that the little boy came unto him 
and stole a small shred from his raiment without being perceived 
by him. Howbeit, God manifested that matter to him. He pro- 

1 About seven miles north of Dublin. 

2 Finan laindrech lobur, Felire, March 16, of the race of Tadg, son of 
Cian, Reeves Columla, 279. 

3 Now Moone in Kildare, in the barony of Kilkea and Moone. 



n6 Betha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, p. 33 a . 

ernan cluana deochra 1 indm. 

Luid colum cille iarsin icn cha cotmacht forcuairt apr&lt;?cepta. 
crofothaz^- cella 7 ovzgbala immda isincdicedsin imess mzc eircc ocus 
imdruimm cliab. 

Facbais mothoria indruimm cliab 7 facbais occa bachaill 
dorigne fessin. 

Luid colum cille \zrum daress ruatd 7 fothaigis cella hile 
Iar0#all 7 eogaw. 8 fothat gis toraig 7 facbais fer smith diamwwtir 
innti .i. ernaine. 

ORola din colum cille cuairt n&renn uli. 7 oroshilwjtar ires ocus 
cretem. orobaits^/ lesium sloig immdai. orofothaz^ cella 7 rowgbala. 
orofacaib sruthi 7 minda 7 martire intib. tanic tra foramramain 
ancinded rochind othds abethad .i. tidecht inoilithr*. Roimraid 
iarww dula darmuir do 3 precept brethri de dalbanchuib 7 dobretnaib 
7 saxaib. 



Teit tra forfecht .xlii. aaeis intan dochuaid .xxxiiii. do inal- 
bain .Ixxuii. mblia^zw aaes chomlan. 7 bahe immurro lin docuaid 
.i. xx. epscop. xl. sacart .xxx. deochaine .1. mac legind. ut dixit. 



sacart aim 
ttche epscop uasal brfg 
fr/sinsalmcetul cznachl 
tricha deocham. coeca mac. 

Luid isirum fosom^wmain coroacht ininud dianad ainm hfi 
colui m cille indiu. Adaig chengcisi tra rosiacht. Tancutar di 
epscop b&ar isintir dogabail alama ass. rofollsig tra dia do colum 
cille naptar epsc# iarfir. widaire sin forfacsat aninnsi lais oroin- 
dis form atuirtechta 7 atindrium hdiles. 



in Meath. 2 . e., in Tirconnell and Tyrone, 3 Facs. to. 



On the Life of St. Columla. 117 

phesied for the boy that he would be a sage and pious. He is 
Ernan of Cluain Deochra at this day. 

Thereafter Colombcille fared into the borders of Connaught 
on his preaching round, and he founded many churches and holy 
dwellings in that province, together with Ess mic Eire 1 and Druim 
Cliab. 3 

He left Mothoria in Druimcliab and left with him a crozier 
which himself had made. 

Colombcille then fared over Assaroe and founded many 
churches with Conall and Eogan. He founded Torach 3 and left 
an elder of his household therein, to wit, Ernaine. 

Now when Colombcille had made a round of all Ireland, and 
when he had sown faith and belief, and when numerous hosts had 
been baptized by him, and when he had founded churches and 
holy dwellings, when he had left elders and reliquaries and relics 
therein, the determination which he had resolved on from the 
beginning of his life came to his mind, namely, to go into pil 
grimage. He then was minded to go over sea to preach God s 
word to Highlanders and to Britons and Saxons. 

So he fared forth on the expedition. Forty-two years was his 
age when he went. Thirty-four he lived in Scotland. Seventy- 
seven was his full age. And the number that went (with him) was 
twenty bishops, forty priests, thirty deacons, fifty students ; utdixit 

Forty priests was their number, 

Twenty bishops, a noble strength ! 

For the psalmody without neglect. 

Thirty deacons, fifty boys. 

He fared then in happy mood till he came to the stead which 
to-day is named Hii of Colombcille. On the night of Pentecost 
he reached it. Two bishops who were biding in the island came 
to cast him out of it. But God revealed to Colombcille that in 
truth they were not bishops, whereupon they left the island to him 
when he told of them their story and what they ought to perform. 4 

1 Now Assylyn [= ess ui Fhloinn], a spot on the river Boyle, about a mile 
west of the town. The son of Ere was Dachonna or Mochonna, Reeves 
Columba, 281. 

2 Now Drumcliff, a little to the north of Sligo, Reeves, Columla, 279. 

3 Now Tory island, off the north coast of Donegal, called torach towery 
from the tors or pinnacles of rock by which the island is characterized, Reeves 
Columla, 279. 

4 lit. their proper accomplishing. 



n8 Betha Choluim Chille, Lelar Brecc, p. 33*. 



Atb&lt;?rt colum cille indsin ramwwtir ismaith diin arfre nia dodul 
siind. 7 albert, frra. iscet dib nech 6cm uaib dodul fotfir 
nahinnsise diacoisecrad. Atracht suas odran erlattad. 7 is&lt;?^ atb^rt. 
Dianamgabtha olse iserlom lem sin. Addrain ol colum cille rotbia 
aldg sin .i. nitiberthar aitghe doneoch icomligese mina fortsa 
shirfes artwj. Luid iarum odran docum nime. 



Fothaigisium eclats hi ia izrum. tri .1. riteoir immanchaine 
acasom innti. 7 Ix. fri hactail. ut dixit. 

Amra 6cbad boi inhfi 

/n coecait immanchunii 

immacurchaib iarsinler 

ocimram irifichit fer. 

Oroihoth^?^ C^///OT cz //&lt;? hii luid forcuairt aprocepta foaIb&lt;z/ 
7 bretnu 7 saxanchu. f&lt;?wjtuc docum nirsi 7 cretmi iarfertaib ilib 
dod^num do. iartodw^cad marb abas. 

B6i ira isintir aroli duine diaropn tcastar colum cille coro- 
chreit conzmuntir uli donchoimdid. Baformat lademun innisin. 
corobens^/e mac induine ut ogakr thromm. conepil de. Bator 
i&ium nagentlide oc^cnach crist 7 coluim cille condernzsum ernaigti 
ndichra codia corothddhuisc inmac marb abas. 



Diambdi ira colum cille inaroli lathi icpr^cept donaslogaib. 
luid aroli duine uadib darsinabaind b(5i icomfocwj doib. nabeth 
ocestecht tri br^ir hd^. notmb^wand innathir he isinusa COTUS- 
marb foc^e/oir. Tuccad achorp ifiadn0-e coluim cille. 7 dos- 
betrsede croiss diabachaill darabruinde conteracht foc/5e/oir. 

Gakr tromm tanic da thimthiridsium. diarmait aainmm f^wepil. 
condemzsum ernaigti leis 7 corotddw^cad abas he. 7 ni nama acht 
rochuindigsium sa3gul secht mblia&lt;^ do dia6is bud^in. 



Tan and tanic caindech uadsom ahff. D^rmatis abachall 
tair. intan doriacht ille fvair abachall forachind ifus 7 lene coluim 



On the Life of St. Columla. 119 

Then said Colombcille to his household, " It is well for us 
that our roots should go under earth here;" and he said to 
them, " It is permitted to you that some one of you go under the 
mould of this island to consecrate it." Odran rose up readily, and 
this he said : " If thou wouldst accept me," saith he, " I am ready 
for that." " O Odran," saith Colombcille, " thereof shall thou have 
the reward, namely, to none shall his request be granted at my 
grave, unless he shall seek it first of thee." Odran then fared to 
heaven. 

Colomb then founded the church of Hii. Thrice fifty monks 
had he therein for meditation and sixty for active life, as said 
(the poet) 

Wondrous the warriors who abode in Hii, 
Thrice fifty in monastic rule, 
With their boats along the sea, 
Three score men a-rowing. 

When Colombcille had founded Hii, he fared on his preach 
ing round throughout Scotland and Britons and Saxons ; and he 
brought them to faith and belief after many miracles had been 
wrought by him, after bringing the dead to life out of death. 

Now there was biding in the country a certain man to whom 
Colombcille had preached, and he, with all his household, believed 
in the Lord. The devil was envious of that thing, so he smote 
the son of this man with a sore disease, whereof he died. Then 
the heathen were reviling Christ and Colombcille, whereupon 
he made fervent prayer to God, and awoke the dead son out 
of death. 

As Colombcille was on a certain day preaching to the hosts, 
a certain man fared from them over the river which was near 
them, so that he should not be listening to the word of God. The 
snake strikes him in the water and killed him forthwith. His 
body was brought into Colombcille s presence, and he makes a 
cross with his crozier over his (the dead man s) breast, whereupon 
he at once arose. 

A sore disease came to his servant (Diarmait was his name), 
and he died ; and Colombcille made prayer for him, and awoke 
him out of death ; and not that alone, but he asked for a life of 
seven years for Diarmait after himself. 

On a time Cainnech came away from him out of Hii. He 
forgot his crozier in the east. When he had reached hither, 1 he 

1 i. e., Ireland. 



ISO Betha Choluim Chille, Lebar Brecc, pp. 33*, 33 b . 



cilk imalle fr/ a .i. cuit chaindig sin diarechullsom. 7 isaire dorfg- 
nesium sin. uair rofitzr comba fochraib diaetsecht. 



Laisse mor tanic dosum fechtwj inhii. fiarfor^/ desium fath 
nalaissi. Tene [p. 33 b ] de donim olesium tanic innossa forteora 
cat^racha isinetail corosmarb iri mile fer cen mota mna 7 mate 
7 ingena. 

Gairm rochualasww tan aile ipurt hffa. annsin atfortsom. 

Bachlach fil isinpurt &lt;w/abachaill inachrub 
toadlibi madircin 7 doirtfe modub. 
Toirnfidsium sis dindsaigid mopax 
isb^wfaid fn madaircm nosfaiceba fas. 

Feet naill do colunt cille forfacaib boithfn he icfuni mairt 
donmethil. Boi athlaech dferaib erenn accu .i. moeluma mac 
boetdin esium. Roiarfaig 1 colum cille de ciamet aloingthi intan 
ba hoclaech. Atb^rt moeluma. nochaithind mart meth imsaith 
intan ropsam oclach. forcongair colum cille fairsium corostofmled 
ashaith. Daroine moeluma airsium sin owduaid 2 inmart uli. 
Tanic boithin iarsin coriarfaig inbaherlam inessair. Rofbrcongair 
ira colum cille formoeluma uli chnama inmairt dothinol inoenbaile. 
7 daronad zmlaid. Bennzchat s column cille izxum nacnamu. 7 b(5i 
afheoil fen impu iarsin corructha donmethil. 



Laa noen do colum cilk immi s mai. teit dofissce l nanairemun 
itilaiscert nahmdsi. Boi cacomdidnad 7 caforc^/ul. maith ira olse 
foncaisc dochuaid immfs apml isannsin ropail damsa techt ddcumm 
nime. acht nirbail dam brdn natorsi dibse iarbarsaethar &lt;wzidairesin 
roanwj ocaibsi dabarcomdidnad ochaisc cocengcidis. 



Orachualator namanaig nabriaMmsa ropter torsig comor. 
Roshai ira iarsin aagad siar corob^nach [ ] nahindsi 

wwahaittr^thaib. 7 rosindarb loscaind 7 nat^racha esti. 

Orob^wnach ira anindsi tanic izrum darecles. 7 nician iarsin 
tancatar cr?cha nasab6ti 7 tossach indomnaig. 7 orothocaib insin 

1 MS. Roiarfaid. 8 dot over first d. 



On the Life of St. Columla. 121 



found his crozier before him here, and a shirt of Colombcille s 
along with it, to wit, Cainnech s quota for his windingsheet ; 
and Colombcille did that because he knew that Cainnech was 
near unto his death. 

A great flash came to him once in Hii. They asked him 
the cause of the flash. " The fire of God from heaven," saith he, 
" hath even now come on three cities in Italy, and hath killed 
three thousand men, besides women and boys and girls." 

At another time he heard a call in the port of Hii. Then 
he said 

" A shepherd is in the port with his crook in his claw. 
He will come to my little horn and spill my ink. 
He will stoop down to my pax, 

And will knock against my little horn, will leave it 
empty. 

As to Colombcille at another time, Boethin left him cooking 
a cow for the reapers. They had an old whilom-hero of the 
men of Ireland, Maeluma son of Boethin was he. Colombcille 
asked him, how much was his meal when he was a young warrior ? 
Said Maeluma, " When I was a young warrior I used to eat a 
fat cow to my full meal." Colombcille commanded him to eat 
his fill. Maeluma did that for him, and ate the whole cow. 
Thereafter Boethin came and asked if what should be eaten were 
ready. So Colombcille ordered Maeluma to gather all the bones 
of the cow into one place, and so it was done. Colombcille then 
blessed the bones, and their own flesh was upon them after that, 
and they were given to the reapers. 

One day in the month of May, Colombcille went to see 
the plowmen in the north of the island. He was comfort 
ing and teaching them. " Well now," saith he, " at the Easter 
that went into the month of April, then was I fain to have gone 
to heaven, but I did not wish you to have grief or sorrow after 
your toil, wherefore I have staid with you to comfort you from 
Easter to Pentecost." 

When the monks heard these words they were sorrowful 
exceedingly. He then turned his face westwards, and blessed the 
.... of the island with its indwellers, and banished toads and 
snakes out of it. 

When he had blessed the island he then came to his cell 
and not long after came the ends of the sabbath and the begin- 



122 Belha Cholirim Chille, Leiar Brccr, p. 33*. 



a anardi tanic laisse mor dagniiis 7 diaagaid. 7 itcwmcatar 
nabrait/;/-/ sin. aingel d din. tarrasar osachind annsin. 



Luid iarsin dob&lt;?nach^ intshabaill. 7 atb&lt;?rt fmfoss .i. diar- 
mait condescomlaifed adaig ddmnaig dociim nime. Rosuid iarsin 
insenoir oirmitnech .i. colum cille tor ur nawwaire uair tanic sci s 
d6 ciarbogar auide .i. Ixx .uii. mbliadan aaes ininbuidsin. Doluid 
annsin adochum ingerran nobid ocnamanch&lt;zz# isindinis 7 cii d 
inucht inclerig corofliuch aetach. Rotr? all infos .i. diarmait indarp- 
ud ingerrain vad. Leic do adiarmait cAcolum cille condernz 
adoethin der 7 toirse iconic hoinedsa. 



ISlia ira tuirem 7 ais;/^ andorigne dia dofertaib 7 mirbuli 
isnatalm&lt;7taib for colum cille. arnifil nech conicfe atrim coleir. 
acht mine tiss&lt;f&lt;/ aaingel fen no aingel de nime dianaisw&lt;?j. ^widlor 
dun so dothabrt/rt dib fordesmbfrecht. 

Nirogenir tra dogoedelu gein buduaisle naba ecnaide nabad 
shocenelchiu oltas colum cilk. Nitanic dib aroli bud becda nabud- 
umla nabud inisle. Mor tra aninisle do colum cille conid he fen 
nobenad aniallac^nrnda diamanchfl$ 7 noinnlad doib. he nobbed 
com#icc acuit arbai foramuin donmuilend 7 nomeled 7 nos- 
b ed lais diathig. he nfsgebed lin naoland fr/achness. he nacotlad 
nococomraiced athoeb frihiiir noicht. isfochind nabid acht corthi 
clochi do[f]rithadurt 7 nidhenad dochotlad \tir acht oiret nobid 
diarmait adalta icgabail tr/ caibtel donbiait. Atraiged sitas iarsin 
7 dognid gol 7 bascaire ama/ m&thair baid occained ahenmi/c. 
Nogebed na .111. iarsin comatain ingainem natragai. ut dixit. 



Na tri coicait tromm intaire isinoidche bamor pian 
isinliur f/r/toeb albaw risiu doarcbad ingmn. 
Gle fr/sleged uaisliu saethu isingainem bamorsieth 
slicht aasna t/v anetach bareill wwidseted gaeth. 



On the Life nf St. Cohnnla. 



ning of the Sunday. And when he raised his eyes on high there 
came a great glow to his countenance and to his face, and the 
brethren beheld that. An angel of God, moreover, tarried above 
him then. 

Thereafter he went to bless the barn, and he said to his 
servant Diarmait that on Sunday night he would depart unto 
heaven. After that the venerable old man, Colombcille, sat down on 
the edge of the path, for weariness had come to him, though his 
wayfaring had been but short; seventy-seven years was his age at that 
time. Then came unto him the nag which the monks had in 
the island, and weeps in the breast of the cleric, so that his rai 
ment became wet. The servant, Diarmait, sought to drive the 
nag away from him. " Let him be, O Diarmait," saith Colomb 
cille, " until he sufficeth himself with tears and sorrow in lamenting 
me." 

Overmany to recount and declare are the marvels and mira 
cles which God wrought on earth for Colombcille ; for there is 
no one who could recount them fully unless his own angel or 
an angel of God of heaven came to declare them ; but we think 
these enough of them to give for a sample. 

Now there never was born to the Gael offspring nobler, not 
wiser, nor of better kin, than Colombcille. There hath not come of 
them another who was more retiring (?), or humbler, or lowlier. 
Surely it was great lowliness in Colombcille that he himself used to 
take off his monks sandals and wash their feet for them. He it was 
that often carried his quota of corn on his back to the mill, and 
ground and brought it home to his house. He it was that never 
put flax nor wool against his skin. He it was that slept not until 
his side came against the bare mould : nought was under his 
head save a pillar-stone for a bolster. And he slept only so long 
as Diarmait his fosterling used to be chanting three chapters of 
the Beatus. He w r ould rise up after that, and would cry and 
beat his hands together like a loving mother lamenting her only 
son. He would chant the thrice fifty (psalms) after that, till morning 
in the sand of the strand, ut dixit \_poeta] 

The three fifties sore the watching in the night great 

was the pain. 
In the sea beside Scotland before the sun had risen, 

Clear in the sand, it was great labour, 

The trace of his ribs through his raiment was manifest 
when the wind blew. 



124 Bet ha Choluim Chille, Letar Brecc, pp. $f 34". 



Amonar afdche insin. isinlo immurro izrum noathaig^/ natra- 
tha: nohidprad corp cm/ 7 afuil. Twpn tchad sosceh. nobaits&lt;?&lt;/. no 
coisecrad. #&lt;?cosmad. &lt;?iccad clamu 7 dalla 7 bacachu 7 ges cedza 
tedmma archena. noduisced marbu. 



[p. 34 a ]. Othanic tra czmiadedenchu do colum cille 7 oroben- 
ad clocc iairmergi aidche domnaig chengcedais. luidsium ria each 
ddcumm naheck.fi. 7 dorfgne slechtain 7 ernaigthi ndfchra kwzaltoir. 
rdlin intansin sollsi aingelta indeckz -y imme dace^leth. 7 rofhdid 
indsin insruith airmitnech aspzVut dochumm nime. isuba 7 ifailte 
mwwtire nime cucoitchend. 

Ata immurro achorp italmam hifus conznoir 7 oirmitin odia 
7 Jainib. cofertaib 7 mirbulib cer^lathidib. 7 cidmor aanoir col- 
l^icc. bidmo indail bratha. intan taitnigfes am#/ grein nemthrual- 
nide [....] achuirp 7 aanma. 



(Isann) tra bess inmorgloirsin 7 ininocbail dosum. inoentaid 
noi ngrad nime natairmdechatar. moentatd aps// 7 descipw/ isu 
cm/, inoent^zi/ deachta 7 doen&lt;r^/a m^ c d^. isinoente/i/ isuaisli 

oentazi/ inoentoi/ nanoemtrindti uaisle oirmitnige uilecum- 

igi. athazr 7 mac 7 spirw/ n^/. 



Mlimm trocaire nd^ ulicumac^/aig tnaimpide noem colm m 
cille. consam uli moentez# sin. Tosamllem vos&itrebam in saecula. 
Amen. 



On the Life of St. Col inn ba. 



That was his nightwork. In the daytime he attended to the 
canonical hours : he offered Christ s Body and his Blood : he 
preached the gospel : he baptized : he consecrated : he anoint 
ed ; he healed lepers and the blind and lame and folk of every 
disease besides : he raised the dead to life. 

Now when Colombcille drew nigh to his ending days, and 
when the bell for nocturn was struck on the night of Pentecost 
Sunday, he fared before the rest to the church, and knelt and 
made fervent prayer at the altar. At that moment an angelic 
radiance filled the church around him from every side, and then the 
venerable elder sent forth his spirit to heaven in delight and in 
j oyance of heaven s household altogether. 

His body is here on earth in honour and veneration from 
God and menfolk, with daily marvels and miracles ; and, though 
great is his honour at present, greater will it be at the Assembly 
of Doom, when like an unsullied sun shall shine the .... of 
his body and his soul. 

There shall he have that great glory and elevation : in union 
with nine orders of heaven that have not transgressed ; in union 
with apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ; in union with the 
Godhead and Manhood of God s Son; in union that is noblest 
of all unions, union with the Holy Trinity, noble, venerable, al 
mighty, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

I implore the mercy of Almighty God, through holy Colomb- 
cille s intercession, that we may all reach that union, that we 
may deserve it, that we may dwell therein, in sacida sceculorum. 
Amen ! 



INDEXES. 



I. N AMES OF PERSONS. 



Abram, 90, 92. 

Aed mac Ainmirech, 106. 

Aed mac Brenainn, 108. 

Aed Slaine, 30, 110, 112. 

Ailill mac Dunlaing, 76, 78. 

Ainmire, 106. 

Annton Manach, 92. 

Artair (?) mac Artchuirp, 52. 

Artchorp mac Coirpri Niad, 52. 

Becc mac Dead, 110. 

Beccan, 64. 

Benen, 20, 24, 26. 

Boetan, 120. 

Boethchu, 58. 

Boite mac Brouaig, 100, 112. 

Boithin, 120. 

Brechtnat Blaithbec, 52. 

Brenand, 108. Brenainn, 82. 

Bresal, 52. 

Brigit, 40, 56, 98, 114. 

Brigit ingen Congaile, 72. 

Brittus, 4. 

Broiccsech, 52. 

Bron, 68. 

Bronach, gen. Bronaig, 100. 

Cainnech, 106, 112, 114, 118. 

Calprund, 4. 

Carbaic, 38. 

Celestinus, 10, 14. 

Cellach, 112. 

Cellachan, 102. 

Cerball, gen. Cerbaill, 110. 

Ciaran mac int-sair, 104, 114. 



Cillme, 30. 

Cirine = Hieronymus, 2. 

Coirpre Nia, 52 

Coirpre mac Neill, 28 = Carpre ni. 

N., 38. 

Colman, 30. Colman Mor, 110. 
Colman deochain, 112. 
Colomb Cille, 28, 40. 
Comgall Bennchuir, 28, 106, 112. 
Conall Gulban mac N?ill, 28, 38 

40, 98, 100. 
Conchess, 4. 
Congaile, 72. 
Conla mac Artrach, 52. 
Cormac ua Liathain, 110. 
Cormac mac Oengusa, 52. 
Cothraige, 10. 
Cremthann, 78. 
Crist, 36. 

Cruithnechan, 102. 
Crunnmael, 24. 
Cuangus, 38. 

Dabid mac lese, 42. 

Dallbronach, 52. 

Dare, 34. 

Darerca, 4. 

De, gen. Dead, 110. 

Deg, 22. 

Den mac Conla, 52. 

Demre, 52. 

Diarmait, 118, gen. Diarmata, 110. 

Dfchu, 18, 20. 

Dimma Mac Noe, 102. 

Domangort, 38. 



128 



Index of Names of Persons. 



Drichu, 30. 

Dubthach Maccu-Lugair, 24. 
Dubthach mac Demri, 52, 70. 
Dunlaing, 78, mac Enda, 64, 70. 

Echaid Find Fuathnart, 52. 

Ecbaid Lamderg, 14. 

Ecretus, 4. 

Enda, 64, Ennae Cennselacb, 78. 

Eogan, 34. 

Eogan Aird-Sratha, 100. 

Eogan mac N&ll, 40. 

Eoin mac Zepideii, 42, = lohain m. 

Z., 50. 
Ere, 116. Ercc, 70, 106. Ercc mac 

Dega, 22. 
Eresus, 4. 
Ernaine, 116. 
Ernan, 116. 
Ethne, 40, 98, 100. 

Fedilmith, 96, 100. Fedilmith 

Rechtaid, 52. 
Felestus, 4. 
Fergna, 108. 
Fergus, 40. 

Fergus mac Conaill Gulban, 98. 
Ferinus, 4. 
Fiacc gen. Feicc, 20. 
Finan Lobur, 114. 
Findchad, 34. 
Finden, 28. 
Finden Maige Bile, 104, F. Cluana 

Eraird, 104. 
Fothad, 14. 

Garban, 42. 

Garrchu, 14. 

Gemman, 104, 

Germanus, 10. German, 14. 

Gornias, 4. 

Gorniuth, 4. 

Grafann, 110. 

Helii, 36. 
Hestras, 4. 

Ibair, 76. 
lese, 42, 
losue, 4. 
Isaias, 2. 



fsu, 16, 96. 

Lassair, 82. 

Laurent, 36. 

Leo, 4. 

Liamain, 4. 

Liathan, 110. 

Loairn, 20. 

Lochra, 18, = Lochru, 22. 

Loegaire, 16, 20, 22, 26, 28, 30. 

Lothracb, 18. 

Lomman, 70. 

Lubeniutb, 4. 

Lucbatmael, 18, 24. 

Lugaid mac Loegairi, 28. 

Lupait, 4, 8, 10. 

Mac-Caille, 66. 

Mac Cuill, 42. 

Macritb, 98. 

Macc-Uais, 54. 

Magonius, 10. 

Maine, 28. 

Maithgen, 52. 

Mantais, 20. 

Marcan, mac Cillini, 30. 

Martin of Tours, 32, 108. 

Maxim, 4. 

Mel, 54, 66, 68, 72. 

Melchu, 54. 

Mercut, 4. 

Mesincorb, 14. 

Miliucc Maccu-Buain, 10, 12, 16, 

18. 

Mobii, 106. 
Mo-choa, 20. 
Mochtai, 98. 

Moeluma mac Boetain, 120. 
Mothoria, 116. 
Moysi, 16, 36, 42. 
Muire In gen, 60. 
Muiredach mac Eogain, 40. 
Mnric, 4. 

Natfraech, 32. 

Nathi, 14. 

Nemias, 4. 

Neptalim, 2. 

Niall, 28, 40. gen. N&ll, 106. 

Niall Noigiallach, 98, 100. 
Niallan, 34. 



Index of Local Names. 



129 



Ninnid Lam-idan, 76, 84. 

Oengus mac Natfraich, 32. 

Oengus Menn, 52. 

Ochbas, 4. 

Odisse, 4. 

Odran, 118. 

Oricc, 4. 

Ossine mac Cellaig, 112. 

Otid, 4. 

Otta, 4, 

Palladius, 14. 

Patraic, 4, 98, Patricius, 10. 

Petar, 14, 16, 36. 

Pol, 16, 36, 42, gen. Poil, 92. 

Renell, 18. 
Richell, 4. 

Sattan, 72. 



Sechnall, 38, 40. 

Sechtmad, 10. 

Signetlus (Segetius ?), 14. 

Solam ace. Solmuin, 42. 

Stepan, 36. 

Succet, 10, 12. 

Suibne mac Colmain, 112. 

Tara, 90. 
Tassach, 44. 
Tigris, 4, 10. 
Trechem, 18, 20, 44. 

Victor, 10, 34, 36, 44. 
Ysaias mac Amois, 2. 

Zabulon, 2. 
Zorobel, 4. 



II. INDEX OF LOCAL NAMES, TRIBES, AND RACES. 



Achad Farcha, 28. 

Achad Fobair, 38- 

Ail-Cluaide, 4, 8. 

Ailech na Rig, 40. 

Airgiaill, ace. Airgiallu, 44. 

Airthir, 74, dat. Oirtheraib, 34. 

Alba, 54, 98. 

Albanaig, 116 ; dat. Albanchaib. 

Ard-achad, 72. 

Ard Macha, 30, 34, 44, 46, 74. 

Ard Sailech, 34. 

Ard-sratha, 100. 

Armoric (spelt Arboric) Letha, 16. 

Ath Cliath, 30. 

Belach Gabrain, 32. 
Belach Ratha, 40. 
Bennchor, gen. Bennchuir, 28. 
Berba, 78. 
Biur, 106. 
Benn Gulbain, 38. 
Brechtain, 20 

Breg, 30, 52, 74, dat. Bregaib, 112. 

Bretain, gen. pi. Bretan, 6, 10, 16 ; 

Brettan, 10, dat. Brctnaib, 4, 12, 



72, 116; ace. pi. Bretnu, 118. 
Bretnaig, 4, 7, 2. 
Brig Graide, 22. 

Caer nam-Brocc, 100. 

Caille Fochlad, 12. 

Caissel, 32. 

Caldea, 90, 92. 

Capua, 16. 

Carran, 92. 

Cell-dara, 76, 78. 

Cell-fine, 16. 

Cell-scire, 110. 

Cenannus, 110. 

Cenel ConaiU, 106. 

Clann Colmain, 30. 

Cluad s.f., gen. Cluaide, 4, 8. 

Cluain Deochra, 116. 

Cluain Eraird, 104. Iraird, 38. 

Cluain mdr Fer n Arda, 112. 

Cluainmacnois, 114. 

Conaille Murthemne, 10, 56. 

Connacht, 12; dat.pl. Connachtaib 

56. 
Corprige Laigen, 102. 



130 



tndex nf Local Names. 



Cruacban Aigle, 36, 38. 
Currach Liffi, 114. 

Daire, 106, 108. 
Dairmag, 110. 
Dal Araide, 10, 16. 
Dal Conchobair, 52. 
Dea, 16. 
Derlus, 20. 
Disert Patraic, 38. 
Domnach Airte, 16. 
Domnach Patraic, 28, 30. 
Druim Cliab, 116. 
Druim Monacb, 114. 
Dun Lethglasse, 20, 46. 

Ebraide, 10, 12, 
Egipt, 92. 
Eoganacht, 32. 
Eoraip, 14. 

Eriu, gen. firenn, 6, 98. 
Ess mic Eire, 116. 
Essruaid, 38, 116. 
Etal, dat. Etail, 120. 

Fal, gen. Fail, 40. 

Ferta f er Feicc, 20 ; Ferta, 34. 

Fir Ross, 74. 

Fir Telach, 66. 

Focbart Murtbemni, 56. 

Frainc, dat. Francaib, 4. 

Glas noiden, 106. 

Goedil, gen. pi. Goedel, 26, dat. pi. 

Goedelaib, 14. 
Gortan, 100. 

Heriu, v. firiu. 

Hii Coluimchille, 116, 118. 

Hui C. &c. v. Ui C. &c. 

lerusalem, 108. 
Inber Colptha, 21. 
Inber Dea, 16. 
Inber Slani, 18. 
Inse Mod, 100. 

Laigin, gen. pi. Luigen, 14, 16, 102. 
Letba Letavia v. Annoric. Le- 

tha = Latium, 38. 
Liffc, Liphfe, 82, 114. 



Loch Lapan, 74. 
Locbar, 70. 
Lugbad, 98. 

Macha (for Ardmacha), 36, 
Mag Bile, 28, 104. 
Mag Breg, 20. 
Mag Coel, 82. 
Mag Enaig, 102, 
Mag Femin, 32. 
Mag Inis, 20, 42, 44. 
Mag Laige, 76. 
Mag Lemne, 68. 
Mag Liffe, 60, 82. 
Mag Raigne, 32. 
Manister (Boiti), 112. 
Martharthech, 32. 
Mendoit Tire, 30. 
Moen, 114. 
Muir Thorren, 14. 

Mumu, gen. Muman, 32 ; ace. Ma- 
main, 32. 

Nemtur, 4, 6, 12. 
Noendruim, 20. 

Oirtbir, v. Airtbir. 
Osraige, 32. 

Rachra, 112. 

Rath Airthir, 30. 

Rathboth, 108. 

Ratb Dari, 34. 

Ratb Inber, 30. 

Ratha Maige Enaig, 102. 

R6m, 14; (=Roma, 38); gen. Roma, 

16 ; dat. Roim, 36, 108. 
Ross Maithgen, 52. 

Saball Patraic, 16 ; = Saball, 20, 44. 

Sax, dat. Saxaib, 116. 

Saxanach, ace. pi. Saxanchu, 118. 

Sil Aeda Slaine, 30. 

Sinaind, 104. 

Sith Aeda, 40, 98. 

Slane, 16, 22. 

Sliab Armoin, 16. 

Sliab Betbad, 38. 

Sliab Breg, 76. 

Sliab Cua, 38. 

Sliab Moenuirnd (Monduirn ?), 22. 



Index of Words. 



13 



Sliab Mis, 10. 
Sliab Sina, 16, 36. 
Sliab Slangai, 38; 
Sord, 114. 

Taillte, 28, 30, 68. 

Tech na Roman, 16. 

Tech Talain, 30. 

Telcha Mide, 66. 

Tc-mair, gen. Tcmraeh, 20, 24, Tem 
pi, 24, dat. Temraig, 20, 24, ace. 
Temraig, 20, 22. 

Tethba, 68. 72, 74, 108. 

Tibir, 38. 

Tir Conaill, 116. 



Tir Enda, 102. 
Tir Eogain, 40, 116. 
Tir Laigen, 70. 
Torach, 116. 
Torinis, 108. 

Ui Cremthainne, 28. 

Ui Failgi, 58. 

Ui Garrchon, 30. 

Ui Maiccuais, 54. 

Ui Meith, 30. 

Ui N&ll, 70. 

Ulaid, 10, gen. pi. Ulad, 20, 42, ace. 

pi. Ulltu, 16. 44. 
Urmumu, 32. 



82. 



INDEX OF THE RARER WORDS. 

acht s. = t/at. actus 116 : acht .i. gnim, Lebar Lecain Vocab. 280. 

actail s. (vita) actualis, 118. 

adaircin, adircin s. inkhorn 120, a dimin. of adarc horn, dat. pi. adarcaib 



n.pl. dible 6 = aible 80. 



aibell s.f. spark, dat. aibill 

aicera v. atcfu. 

airchisecht s. indulgence, clemency, 84, 7. 

aire s. care, heed : dochuaid cid m aire-si m oenar lit. even heed of me 
alone has departed, 78. 

airet s. 84 = oiret space of time 110. 

airge s. a place for milking cows, 8 ; a dairy, 60, 62. Hence airgeeh s.f. 
dairywoman, Broec. h. 11. 

aissec s. restitution, 6; O R. s aiseae. 

amm s. time, 56. 

anaichnid adj. unknotvn, 106. 

anallana adv., v. inallana. 

anbrachtach adj. consumptive, 68; gen. sg.f. dnlrachtaige, LB. 60b; 
from the negative prefix an- and the adj. brachtach fat. 

ances, s-. ? 74. Here and in LU. 53a (111 noicad a ances) and in Raul. 
B. 512, p. 6 b. 1 (roic cech ngalar ocus cech n-ancess) this word seems to 
mean aching or ailment. Cormac s ainces doubt is prob. a different word. 

ancride s.m. wrong, 34, 54. 

andagud s. sinning 80; from andach sin, "dat. anduch Ml. 134d, whence 
andgaid nequam Z. 608. 

andarleis it seemed to Mm 102 ; andarlee it seemed to her, 100, andarlimn 
it seemed- to me, 32 ; darlium 80 meseems : cf. dalim, indalim Z, 952. 

angbuid adj. hard, cruel 42.- 

arad s. ladder 112. 

arilliud s. meritum, ace. pi. ariltne 56 ; but in 18, goods. 

* Words such as athniugud, duidlid, as to which I am not sure whether they are bluu- 
ders of the scribe or the facsimilist, are here omitted. 



132 Index of Words. 

armgaisced s.m. armour, both offensive and defensive, 70. da aingel fdn 
armgaisced LB. 60b. rohadnacht con-armgasciud LU. 118b. 

ascimm 3d sg. 2dy. pret. act. no-asced 58, 8. . Seems the verb cognate 
with aissec supra. 

atagur (ms. hitagar !) I dread, 36. 

atciu video, 72; atciera videbis, 12; (f)aicera-so videres, 72; itcess visus 
est 100. 

att s. a swelling 68. 

atfessar 42, 1st sg. s-fut. pass, of atfetar. 

bachlach s. baculatus, hence shepherd, 82, 120; W. laglog, Br. belec. 

baid adj. fond 122. 

bann s. law 18. 

bascaire s. beating the hands together in lamentation 122; basgaire gl. 
lamchomairt, O Dav. 103 ; bron ocus basgaire LIT. 33a. 

beccimm J bleat, 3d sg. s-pret. absolute form beccis, 30. 

becda adj. lowly, meek ? 122 ; compar. used for superl. becdu LU. 91b. 
13. 

beo 1st sg. conj. of bin, 70, beo -mm 78. 

biss s. bit, dat. pi. bissib 6. 

bro s. ( = Skr. grdvan), quern,, gen. broan 64 ; ace. broin, 104 

brodirne s. a hair 38, 114; O Clery s brothairne. 

brug s. (W. bro} district, dat. pi. brugaib 32. As the O.Ir. form was 
mrug (di Moisten mine mrugaib, Cod. St. Paul) or mruig (immruig thuaithe, 
Lib. Armach. lOb 1), this word is prob. cognate with Lat. margo, Zend merezu, 
0. Norse mork, Goth. marJca. 

can adj.jfazV, clear 40, 98. 

cannadas s. 56 ; apparently another form of cannabar .i. cac. 

caplait s. Maunday Thursday 66. From Med. Lat. capillatio capillo- 
rum evulsio, DuCange, W. cablyd, Corn, hamlos, Br. hamblit. 

cechlathide adj. daily, 124. 

cele de s.m. servus del, Culdee, 78. 

cendla s. dia dardain cendla Maunday Thursday 68. Written cenla LB. 
lOa 29, dat. sg. cendld Corm. s.v. Caplat. 

cimmid s. (O.Ir. cimbith, cimbid), captive 74. 

clechtaimm I am wont, 3d. pi. 2dy. pres. act. no-chlechtatis 12. 

cleithe s. ridgepole, 66. 

clesrad s. playing 82. 

clochan s. causeway, a road paven with stones (clocha) 24. 

coad s.m. a mess 98 ; n.pl. coaid siirthroscho (gl. panibus qui efficiuntur 
de tertia parte). Cognate with coth food. 

coelach s. wattling 108, from coel slender. 

coernnacair potuit 68, a reduplicated deponential pret. (== coimnucuir Z, 
871), probably from cumcu possum Ml. 18b. root NANK. 

coer comraicc s. 96. 

coimprimm I conceive, 3d sg. pret. act. coiniprestar 68. 

coirtged s. tanning with bark 110, deriv. from *coirtech = corticem. 

coitchend s. Jcitchen 78, seems a blunder for cucenn coquina gen. sg. 
cuicni 34. 

colleicc, coleic adv. 124, 12, 72, II, just now, for the present, 0. Ir. col- 
leicc, Z. 610. 

comaicse s. neighbours 56. 



Index of Words, 133 

comairbert bith s.f.food 58. 

comairmimm I reckon, I count : ro comairemsa, 78, seems a corruption 
of ro-m-comairemad-sa. 

comaithech s.m. neighbour, ace. pi. comaithgiu 70. 

combessaib 58, a corruption of comdessaib coetaneis : cf. seek mo 
chomdessa Z. 338. 

cornmamus s. wedlock 52, gen. sg. commamsa, O Dav. 70, s. v. comaim. 

cosmad ungebat 44. The gen. sg. (cosmata) of a cognate substantive 
occurs in Corm. s. v. Caplait. 

cretar s. relic (W. crair), dat. pi. cretraib 8. 

cumma s. the same, an equal quantity : ni beomm i cummaid, &c., 78, 
means either " I should not be (treated) alike as to the cow with the Culdees," 
etc., or " I should not be offered the cow in common with the other leper." 

cuccan s. penus 58. 

cuirimm dar-cend I overturn, 3d pi.- b-fut. act. cuirfit dar-cend 70. 

cumtaigimm condo, in its two senses of / build and I lay up, 3d sg. pret. 
act. ro-s-cumtaig 34 ; 3d sg. pret. pass, ro-cumdaiged 28 ; 3d pi. pret. pass, 
ro-cumtaigtea, 36. 

dastar insanitur 8, presumably from *dasaimm. The cognate substantive 
is dasacht, adj. subst. dasachtach 76. 

debroth s. 26, an oath of Patrick s, prob. a corruption of debrad, derbad. 

deinmmnetach adj. hasty, impatient 72 : cf. co dian deinm[ne]tach LU. 
24a, deinmnitach, H. 2. 16, col. 373. 

de niu-rad 28 ; deniu raid 66 j * dicto (raid) citius (deniu, compar. of 
diari). 

demince s. 52. approbation, confirmation, leg. deminche, demniche ? from 
demnech. 

deolaidecht s. favor ? 42, 90, cf. deolid gratia Z. deolaidh .i. grdsa O Cl. 

dessel adv. dextrorsum, righthandwise 20, 34. 

det s. tooth, ivory, claideb det an ivory-hilted sword 64. 

dimdach, dimmdach adj. unthankful 8, 78. 

diulai adv. at the end of the day, from ting Idi. 

dobegaimm / demand, 1 sg. redupl. s.-fut. dobibussa 52, from an Indo- 
European root BHAGH, whence the Skr. desiderative root bhiksh and per 
haps the obscure Eng. beg and Gr. TT-T-^-^OQ. 

doethin s. sufficiency 122 = doethain LU. 25b. 

dofuissmimm I pour forth, 3d sg. pres. indie, act. dofuissim, 4. 

doraith on behalf of 102. 

drol s. pothook, ace. pi. drolu 82. 

drolmach s. tub 66, 74 : sometimes spelt drolbach. 

druimm dar druim adv. 74, lit. back over back. 

duaid 3d sg. pret. act. ate 120, sometimes ddid. The 3d pi. is duatar. 

dub s. ink 120. 

duchus (in fir-duchus) s. 96, for duthchas, heritage, a deriv. from 
duthaig, duthoig (dian-duthoig Liphe ligda, Goidel. 176) and cognate appa 
rently with the redupl. pret. do-ru-thethaig possedit? Tur. 17, duchusta- 
lam (duthchus-talam) s. native land, ace, sg. duchustalmain 96. 

duird s. fists, for duirnd 62. 

duthracur I desire 76. 

eccrimm I arrange, ecarthar 1 Senchas Mdr 152 ; 3d sg. pret. pass, ro- 
heccrad 96. 



134 Index of Words. 

ecmaiss absence : ina hecmais 62 = n-a becmais 94. 

ed s. a space, 106, inn-ed ooraueumar 80 ; ed radaircc s. space of si q Jit, 
an far as eye can reach 36. 
eittech adj. ivinged 20. 
elscothach adj. greedy 60. 
enecb s. f.face, honour 62. 

erlattad adv. readily 118; for *erlamtad, c.r\&m paratus Z. 5 ; erlom 118; 
orlum 26; erlaime 17. 

escaine s. banning 36, 104, O Keilly s easgaine. 
essair 3d sg. s-fut. passive of ithim I eat 120. 

essi s. used in nominal prepositions; dar-essi 60; taran-essi 92; dian- 
essi behind them 16 ; dia-essi/or it 18 ; cf. tara-essi, tar-an-essi Z. 658. The 
shorter form es occurs in dia-is 118. 

essitb s. issue 28, borrowed from exitus. 

eterius s. JiostagesJiip 26 ; from aitire (Conn.) or eitire hostage. 
faitbimm I laugh, 3d sg. pret. rofaitbestar 62 ; rofaitfestar 110 = 
foraitbi, Tur. 62. 

fer cummtba s. comrade 78. 
fer diguind s. grassplot ? 34. 

feraimm I pour, 3d sg. pret. act. noco-r-fer banna not a drop poured 
82. 

ferg-luinde s.f. angry bitterness 78. 

findcbaelach s. white or peeled rods or willow-wands, 76. 
fine 8. family 41, 98. 

fingal s. parricidium 112; fingalach parriddalis ib. from Jin cogn. with 
A.S. wine l amicus and gal, cogn. with Litb. gelu. 

fochainne s. 106, seems to mean tribulation. It occurs in the plural 
LB. 143a, line 20 ; cersat mora na fochainne-sin though great were those 
tribulations. 

fodecbta adv. noiv, 26. 

foitnech adj. patient, 84 ; from the n-stem foditiu. 

folangimm, I support, foloing sustinet Z. 431; 3d pi. redupl. pret. act. 
fo-rai-langatar 82. 

forbacbaimm I finish, end, 3d pi. s-pret. act. forbachsat 58 ; cf. forba mo 
betbad Gild. 91. 

forbenimm perficio, 3d sg. s-fut. act. forbia 18. 

foremdimm (for-e-madimm) I am unable, 3d sg. pres. indie, act. forem- 
did 78. 3d sg. pret. act. forfemid, 18. 
formna s. shoulder, 26. 

fortbarsnu adv. athwart, 68 ; fortarsnu LU. 76b, foretarsnu 70b. 
forusta s. a sage, from fonts knowledge. 
foss s. servant 122. 

frisgaur I answer, 3d pi. redupl. fut. act. friscerut ( = fris-d-gerat) 18. 
frithbruithimm / deny, refuse, 3d sg. 2dy pres. act. nofritbbruitiud (leg.- 
bruithed) 58, 7. 

frithorissair he withstood 14. 
fuasnad s.f. disturbance, anger, dat. fuasnaid 78. 
furail s. prevalence, 32, .i. imurcra, O Dav. 94. 

gabail lama to cast forth, to drive bacJc, do gabail a laina to cast him 
forth, to drive him back, 38, 116 ; see lam. 

gabimm gr6im prosum, ro-s-gab greim profuit 62 ; gebid (leg. gebid) 
greim proderit 94. 



Index of Wurds. 135 

garmain s, a weaver s beam 82. 

geis s. ban, interdict, tabu, 20, ace. geis 62. 

glamud s. 78, scolding, from gliim, Conn. Trans. 87. 

iarmergc, iairmcrgc s. nocturns 106, 124, also called medonaidche, one i&gt;l 
the eight canonical hours. The others were prim (prime), teirt (tern-), wcdvii- 
Idi or eisrutli (sext), noin (none), fescor (vespers), coimpleit (compline) and 
tiugnair (matins). 

iallachrann s. sandal 122 .i. broga, O Cl. 

ihimm = bibo, 3d pi. redupl. pret. ebatar 8. 3d sg. coivj. ehi 8, Isl pi. 
conj. ebem 8, 3d sg. pret. att-ib 24. 

imbrimm infero, 3d pi. pret. ro-imbretar intulerunt 58, 2. 

iinluad s. motion, disturbance, 94, root (p)lu. 

immaltoir 30; imaltoir clochi 16; some kind of portable altar. 

immarbe s. falsehood 11, 40; imarbe .i. breg., H. 3.18, p. 525; scorns 
cognate with immarbus sin. 

immarchor s. erring, straying, 70. iomarchur .i. mearughadh, O Cl. 

imnare s. great shamefastness, bashfulness 102, from im intensive and 
ndre shame. 

imtha sin adv. likewise 100; imtha .i. ainhlaidh, nimtha ,i. ni hinaml 
lim. O Don. Supp. 

inallana adv. aforetime 94 = anallana 28, 114. 

inderb adj. uncertain, pi. indreba 36. 

indlubra s. weakness 58. 

isa whose, lit. it is his (hers) 26, 98. 

i-siut proiu demonst. fern, that, 28. 

istud s. 42 ( etsud llawl. B. 512, p. 29a, 2) seems a loan from Lai . 
sfttdens or studiosus. For the prosthetic vowel cf . e-scop fina. 

lam s. f. (= palma) hand, in the phrases il-laim in manu 74, i. e. in 
potestate, techt do laim, dochuaid do laim 80, where it means the sacrifiee ol 
the mass (cor lamha aire .i. dul do sacarbhaic H. 3. 18, p. 521). 

lam s. gen. lama, (an u-stern ?) occurs in the phrase, gabail lama to drirc 
back, and seems cognate with Ir. lamach missile (?) weapons, Gr. TreXtfJLifa, 
TToXf/KOC) TraXXw, Lat. pello. 

lebrar s. f. books, dat. lebrair 106; cf. O.W. plurals like pouUorattr 
pugillares. 

ler s. sea, gen. lir 34, dat. liur 122, ace. ler 118- 

lespaire s. lamp 40. 

lessugud s. lettering 74, lesugud 60. Examples of the cognate verb are 
no-lesaiged 58, lesaiges 60. 

leth a-toibe 1, 50 ; lit. half of its side, seems to mean parallel passage/ 

lia n. flood 106 .i. fleachadh .i. tuile, O Cl. Welsh lli. 

line s. = linea 92 ; but whether it here means fishingline, or a line madf 
with pen, i. e. writing, I cannot say. tre line .i. tre sgelaib H. 3. 18, p. 522. 
Miltiadat lini, Fiacc 12. 

lisdutus s. mischief 1 78, liss .i. olc, O Cl. 

losse s. flame, but in 84 blush : loisi .i. lasair, O Cl. 

lud, better luth, s. motion 68 ; root (p)lu. 

macha s. a plain ? 40. 

mafitir (math-fitir) is well known 10. 

inaidimm / break, 3d pi. pres. moidit 80, 3d sg. redupl. pret. cor-ri-maid 
G = cor-re-muid 36, 108. 



x of Words. 



maidmige s.f. boastfulness 52. 
maistred s. chit r ni ny GO ; gen. maisterda G2. 

malartaimm destruo, disperdo, malartar destrualur 22 ; ni utalarfae-sin 
(gl. ne disperdas) Ml. 74d. 

manchune s. monastic rule 118. 

)nandar s. demolition, destruction 8 ; .i. sgaoileadh, O Cl. 
martir s. inartyrium, relic 116 ; martra \. taisi, H. 3. 18, p. 52.~&gt;. 
mcircend adj. 18. meaning doubtful, 
milten s. honeycomb, dat. pi. miltenaib 8. 
miltnidecht s. f. warfare 44. 

mind s. I. diadem 100 = 0. W. minn serturn, II. shrine 106, ace. pi. 
niinda 112. 

moc.h en s. welcome 62, my welcome (mo-fochcn ?) 
nmnigin s. confidence, trust 72, 10. 
munterus s.familiaritaft 92. 

ueuiidiu-li s. a dweller in heacen 38, opposed to iforuacli (leg. ifYernach ?) 
18. 

ocbad .s. youths, warriors 118, from do = 0. W. iouenc and -vad = O. 
W.-gued. 

oclaigimn; / become terrible, 3d sg. prcs. indie, pass, oclaicbtbcr 28. 
i rom adj. ocal = orjal fearful O Don. Supp. 
oiret a space 102. see airet. 

osaic s. washing ? 68, rogab iarsin for dsaic 7 indlat dia apstalu (gl. 
ce])it lauaro pedes diseipulorum) LB. 51a, line 22. 

pux s. 120, instrumentum quod inter Missarum solemnia populo osculan- 
(luin praebctur, DuCange. 
petta s. pet, 82. 

pdlaiiv, polire s. looJcaatchel 114, 24, a folaire .i. uinm do teig liubair, II, 
3. 18, p. 522. 

reeboll s. ivindiny-sheet, (O Clery s racholl .i. brat mairbk), dat. recbull 
120. 

reek s s. 34, here it obviously means a close; but it generally means (;is 
in 114) a recluses cell : reelusnm idem quod reelusorinm, DuCaiige. 
reini s. a course : aidble reimend, lit. vast ness of courses 102. 
rom adj. early 40 .5. moch no luatb, H. 3. 18, p. 525. 

ruse s., hamper? 62: possibly O R. s ruisy a vessel made of the hark of 
trees. Hr. rusJcen, Fr. ruche. 

saiged s. 40, seems to mean power: and to be cognate with Skr. sahnx, 
(ioth. siyis, Nhg. sitg. 

sairse s. freedom 62. 

sdmaigimm I place, 3d sg. prct. act. r-samaig, 98. 
sasad s. a satisfying 59. 

scothsemrach adj. full of clover-blossom 114. 
siltaid s. m. aoirer 68. 

slipre s. rods for making wiekerwork buildings 78 : sliprc oeus irhlusea 
LB. 214a, 

sobarthan s. f. prosperity, good lucJc, blessing : aec. sobarthain 32, (&gt;(. 

soimm adj. wealthy 34. 

solamachtaige adj. (part. ?) easily handled, palpable 26. 

sord adj. clear, pure, 114. 

snail, better susiill (.i. beag, O Cl.) Mile, 96. 



In&lt;l\\ f&gt;/ Words, 137 

sunna iidv. here 44. 

tailccnd s. in. asciciput, adzehead, a nickname for Patrick. 

larcns a 3d sg. pret. pass, meaning was offered : tarcuid (targnid, 2 
Seiichas Mor, 146) is the corresponding active form. 

tarmnaigimm prosum, tarmnaig prodest 50, tarmnaigfid proderit 54. 

tarr, tairr ? s. belly, tail : fo-a-thairr 78, should, I suspect, be^or-a-thairr 
on his rear, i. e. after him: cf. LIT. 63b 64a : IS nephnar an-d&lt;&gt;L:iii:if 
Ulaid masate file suncl tall ol Co. cein file in slog for-a-tairr "shameless is 
what the Ulstermen are doing if it be they who are there," saith Cuclmlainn, 
" while the host is behind them." 

tarraigimm I overtake, seize, 3d sg. pret. act. tarraig (misprinted tan-aid) 
12, tarraighther is caught, overtaken, arrested, O Don. Supp. 2 pi. imper 
ative tarrgid, Vis. Ad. 

tarrasair, staid 82, tarrasar 122. ni tharasar 16, tarrusar 18, tarrustar 
14. 

tcoir s. Uteoria, (vita) theoretica, 118. 

terpud s. severance, 8 tearbhadh .i. dealughadh, O Cl. 

tiduapairt s. onfall, attack, 22 = tiduabairt (gl. impetus) LB. 54b. 
line 36. 

tindrium s. exsecutio 116, trisin-tindrim (gl. per executionem) Ml. 
tinnriomh .i, criochnughadh, O Cl. 

tindscra s. dower 52. 

toadlimm J visit-, 3d sg. b-fut. act. toadlibi 120: cf. do-sn-aidlibea vixi- 
tabit eos Z. 459. 

tochoscem $. following 50. in carraic dia tochoscem the (spiritual) rock 
fofolloiu them, LB. 56b (1 Corinthians x. 4). 

tocht s. piece .i. spolla, O Cl. dat. pi. tochtaib 60. 

toes s. dough 24, W. toes, ex *stoit-ta : cf. orn/e gen. (TTatro c. 

togaillsc adj. pitiful, compassionate ? 74; cf. ro-togailsigestar oohadlnil 
fit greaili) pitied (?) her, Egerton 93, Ib 1. 

togairt s. f. dairy 1 gen. togorta 62 : cctna-thogairt dia foidcd thr Jlsxt 
dairy (buttermaJcing ?) to which she tvas sent, Broccan s hymn, 25. 

tola s. flood, 6. 

tonach s. borrowed from tunica, 28. 

tonngar s. wave-voice 84, tondgar in mormara LB., p. 100. \V. fun- 
naivr. Hence tondgarach LU. lib. 

torathor s. monster 74 = torothor LU. 2a, 2h : cogn. with rt pas, Ttparoc. 

tromdatus s. oppressiveness 7&lt;S. 

tuailche s. (= tuaithle .{. glicus H. 3. 18, p. 528), ace. tuadchi, hclln- 
luaichle, from tuachil (gl. astutus) Z. 768. 

tuirthechta s. story ? 116. 

tnirthiud s. cause, occasion 10 = tuirtlicd .i. adbar, H. 3. 18, col. 52 J. 

t usiuimm parturio, 3d sg. 2dy redupl. fut, jiass. notusemtha 56. Tin- 
iMign. noun is tusmiud, tusmed parluritio 56. 

uathad s. moon, lunar month 66, hi coicid htiatlud (gl. in quinta luna) 
Z. 310. Root pu ? cf. Skr. i.avamfnia. 

nide s. wayfaring, journey 122. 

ntlach s. lapfnl 6, Ian a utlaig the full of his li&gt;, Egerton 93^ Ib. 1. 



CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS. 

p. 5, line 1, for brought into read biding- in : 1. 18, for they tell 
read there is told ; 1. 37, for If the read If his. 

p. 7, 1. 3, for the baptism could be performed read he could pel-Turin 
the baptism. 1. 10, for a read the. 

1. 14, read and overmany to recount and declare are the miracles 
and marvels that the Lord wrought for him in his childhood, &.c. 
p. 9, 1. 32, for he healed it read it healed/ 
p. 12, 1. 28, for nitharrazcZ read nitharra^/ 
p. 13, 1. 36,/or but Patrick tarried read and overtook him. 

1. 39, after for insert the time of/ 
p. 14, 1. *7,for thedesczVt read thmlesczVt/ 

p. 17, 1. 22, after behind insert them/ 1. 23, omit the words in 
brackets. 

p. 19, 1. 6, after f answer insert him/ 11. 8, 9, for and his own, &c. 
read and out of his own princedom he shall perfect [his followers] for 
ever." 

1. 27, read lie shall have therefor the holy, all pure . . . habitation/ 
1. 29, for for ever read a lasting law / l} 
p. 21, last line, for durst read would dare/ 
p. 23, 1. 19, after be insert now/ . t 

p. 25, 1. 39, for wizards read wizard/ 
p. 29, 1. 2, for Congall read Comgall. 

p. 31, 1. 6, for altar-stone read altar/ 1. 20, for preached . read 
c preacheth/ 

1. 27, /or vvas his wife. They rejected read he had to wife. 
He rejccteth/ 

p. 33, 1. 22, for was read is/ 1. 25, for bade farewell to read blessed/ 

p. 35, 1. 17, for been done read happened therein/ 

p. 37 1. 5, read Overmany to recount and declare are, &c. 

1. 10, read and they were laid up here by Patrick in Paul and 
Peter s shrine/ 

p. 39, 1. 10, dele ... 1. 13, for prayed read besought Him/ 
1. 16, for rang read struck/ 
1. 18, read and he orders seven of his household/ 
1. 19, for in his lifetime read (who are still) alive/ 
1. 23, for after this read thereafter/ 
1. 26, for manse read holy dwelling/ 
1. 28, for seize his hand read cast him forth/ 

p. 43, 1. 12, for shall be read I will make/ 1. 24, for a &gt;! 

wisdom read studious of wisdom/ 

p. 44, last line, for Atcownaicset read Atconaicset. 

p. 45, 1. 2, for cold read bare/ 1. 20, for household read thorpe/ 

1. 33, for in earthly things read on earth/ 

p. 55, 1. 19, for hath distinguished read distinguished/ 1. 27, for 
cruelty which thou shewest read wrong which thou doest/ 1. 28, for 
these read those/ 



Corrections and Additions. 139 

p. 56, 1. 25, for itcowncatar read itconcatar. 

p. 57, 1. 7, for The child that shall, &c., read that the child that 
would be brought forth on the morrow at sunrise would overtop/ &c. 

1. 11, for Said the poet. The, &c., read The prophet said that 
the child that would be brought forth on the morrow, &c. 

1. 13, for shall read should. 1. 17, before Brigit insert 
Saint. 

1. 21, for in the eighth moon read on the eighth of the lunar 
month. 1. 34, before the insert the grace of. 

p. 59, 1. 8, for her compeers read those of her age. 
1. 9, for (the food) away read back. 
11. 1 2, 13, for enjoined read entrusted. 
1. 24, for bade read makes. 
1. 37, for flock read &lt; herd. 

p. 61, 1. 37, after feed insert full : dele the foot-note. 
p. 62, 1. 11, for ruse read ruse. 

p. 63, 11. 4, 6, 15, 16, 19, for firkin read hamper. 1. 13, for mock 
ed read laughed. 

p. 65, 1. 27, for nobleman read man of good kin : last line, fo, 
snatch it read snatch thee. 

p. 67, 1. 20, add Still remaineth the altar s leg that lay in Brigit s hand 
though the three other legs were burnt. The miracle here referred to is 
told more fully in a note to the Felire, Feb. 2. " And while he [Bishop 
Moel] was reading orders upon her, Brigit was biding thus -the leg of the 
altar in her hand ; and seven churches were burnt, and that leg was in them, 
und it was not burnt, sed servata est per gratiam Brigittae." 

p. 68, 1. 4, for abrachtach read a [n]brachtach and for \&gt;rigi,t read 



1. 5, for anosaie read anosaic. 

p. 69, 1. 2, after when insert on Maunday Thursday. 
1. 4, for maimed read consumptive/ 

11. 19, 20, for the child had been conceived read had she con- 
ceived the child/ 

p. 70, 1. 29, for immachor read imma[r]chor. 

p. 71, 1. 2, for am read was/ 1. 24, for shall read should and for 
one serve read work in/ 1. 34, for weapons read armour/ 1. 35, for 
...... read that he might move to and fro thereunder. 1. 37, for ...... 

read was the "King astray and he attained not even a thousand paces, so the 
armour was given/ &c. 

p. 73, 1. 15, for impatient read hasty. 
p. 75, 1. 2, for ...... read compassionate/ 

1. 31, for anguish read ailment/ 
p. 77, 1. 5, for destroying read harrying/ 

p. 79, 1. 32, after Cennselach insert that is, the queen of Leinster/ 
1. 43, after built insert saint/ 1. 13, for displeased read unthankful/ 
1. 17, for am not to be slighted read should not be (treated) 
like them/ 

1. 29, read But the haughty leper fell in the stream, and his cow 
after him, and was drowned/ 

p. 80, 1. 20, for achmc? read achind. 



i^o Corrections and Additions. 

p. 81, 1. 7, for Let them read They shall. 1. 25, /or confess to* 
read receive the sacrament from. 

1. 30, for (credence table ?) read portable altar. 
1. 34, for confession read to the sacrament. 

p. 83, lines 1 and 3, for bondsman read shepherd. 1. 21, after was 
insert biding. 

p. 91, 1. 5, omit God. 

p. 93, 1. 15, before Antony insert of. 

p. 95, 1. 22, for hitherto read aforetime. 1. 35, for availeth read 
shall avail. 

p. 97, 1. 21, for inlaid read set forth. 1. 35, for native country 
read heritage. 

p. 99, !. 11, for dish read mess. 

p. 103, 1. 29, for began to rehearse read takes to rehearsing. 

p. 107, 1. 28, for some distance. He went read as far as. 
1. 291, for pestilence! read tribulation! 

p. 113, 1. 2, for This read That. 1. 16, for Ossene read Ossine. 
1. 37, for offertory read offering. 

p. 115, 1. 14, for yonder read some time ago. 1. 36, for shred 
read hair. 

p. 1 16, 1. 3, for cro read cor. 

p. 117, 1. 25, for neglect read work. 

p. 119, 1. 11, for meditation read contemplation. 

p. 122, 1. 1, for itcomicatar read iteoncatar. 

p. 123, 1. 23, for more retiring read meeker. 



BX 4678 .15 1877 SMC 
Three Tiiddle-Irish homilies 
on the lives of saints Patri
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